Abstract: Systems and methods for protecting a MR head against ESD are described. The MR head may be automatically and repeatedly shorted (and consequently disabled) whenever the MR head is not required to be operable (e.g., any time after final installation or during testing). The MR head may be coupled to a support assembly that is configured to connect to an actuator assembly. The support assembly includes a shorting mechanism that automatically shorts the MR head upon disconnection of the support assembly from the actuator assembly, regardless of the orientation of the support assembly, and automatically unshorts the MR head upon connection of the support assembly to the actuator assembly. In particular, the support assembly includes a deformable surface characterized by a relaxed state in which the MR head is shorted and a deformed state the MR head is unshorted, wherein the MR head may be repeatedly shorted and unshorted by repeatedly relaxing and deforming the deformable surface.