Former NFL All-Pro trashes Steelers RB Najee Harris with unsolicited comments

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a respectable offense for the first time since Ben Roethlisberger was quarterback. Mike Tomlin’s decision to trade polarizing quarterback Justin Fields for veteran Russell Wilson was met with controversy, but turned out to be the right move.

But a quarterback change isn’t the only reason for the team’s success. Najee Harris has been running like a man possessed this year. Many wondered how the bruised running back would fit into Arthur Smith’s wide zone offense, and Najee quickly put any concerns to rest in the first half of the 2024 season.

Najee had a forgettable game against the Commanders in Week 10, and from the sounds of it, this is the only Steelers game Rodney Harrison has seen so far.

The former NFL All-Pro safety and football commentator joined Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk where he discussed the state of the Pittsburgh Steelers ahead of their Week 11 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.

Williams didn’t shy away from explaining who he thought should be Pittsburgh’s starting running back, and his comments about Najee Harris seemed uncalled for.

“Jaylen Warren should be the starter,” Harrison explained. “Najee Harris, when he runs, it looks like his legs are heavy; he looks like he’s almost running in sand at times. Every now and then you look at Najee, he’ll give you that energy and he runs like Ricky Waters, but mostly I start Warren as my running back.”

It seems a bit… harsh.

I’ve been as much of a Najee critic as anyone early in his career, but Harris is having easily his best season in the NFL in 2024. Before his tough sledding performance against Washington, Najee put together a career-best three-game stretch. his career – earned 322 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns while averaging nearly six yards per carry. attempt.

Over the past two years, there has been a legitimate case for why Warren should be Pittsburgh’s top running back. But in 2024, the young RB has been affected by hamstring and knee problems. Now he’s dealing with a back injury prior to Week 11 that caused him to miss practice.

Meanwhile, Harris is a batter who never wears out and is on pace for a career-high in rushing yards.

Najee Harris is a durable, skilled running back who is having a career season. Rodney Harrison might want to put on some Steelers tape before obliterating a focal point of Pittsburgh’s offense with unnecessary and misplaced comments.