Pittsburgh meets its newest RB of the Steelers 2021 NFL Draft Class

With OTAs kicking off for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL, we take an inside look at one of its newest members to the team.

The Steelers kicked off their organized team activities (OTAs) on May 24th. For many, this is the first feeling of the start of a new league year as fans all itch for more football. Technically, March 17th holds the official title for the league’s new calendar year, but the Pittsburgh Steelers and the rest of the NFL recently took to the practice field for the first time as a 90-man roster.

A time of meetings between veterans, rookies, and off-season additions, we as spectators begin to get excited for the new year simply at the sight of football. This is also a time where the light will shine brightest over each organization’s latest class of players, all the generated hype that is created for names such as Najee Harris, Pat Freiermuth, and Quincy Roche is finally presented on home turf.

Fans that care about things like player comps, measurables, and college accolades are familiar with the type of players that the Steelers drafted. However, this is an exciting time that will show how the Steel City plans on using the incoming draft class in the future.

The bigger picture for Najee Harris and the Steelers in 2021

Knowing they can’t waste any time as a team, reports surfaced that the Steelers plan to utilize its newest RB to the fold to his maximum ability.

Najee Harris is the organization’s most significant investment at the RB position since the departure of RB Le’Veon Bell. The question is have they finally picked the correct one? Harris was by far the most talented in the draft and he’s also a leader-by-action that could make a considerable change just from his presence alone.

Harris arrives not only with a work ethic that could potentially turn around the Steelers running game but also aid many lives of the community under his own Da Bigger Picture Foundation.

Symbolizing as a testimony to Najee’s upbringing and character, Da Bigger Picture Foundation’s mission is “assisting underserved families in reaching their potential and goals. The hope is to provide tools and assistance to families facing challenging times. Some of the key areas of focus will be education, homelessness, addressing hunger and utilizing sports as a platform to develop life skills”.

Tackling a national issue that saw a 2.2 increase across the country from 2019-20, Harris’ assist in aiding homelessness is in its early stages but should still be recognized. A non-profit that originates out of his hometown, the Bay Area in California, he recently explained on The Ellen Show when asked by host Rob Lowe, “if you could say one thing to somebody who’s in your shoes, 12-13 years old, living in a homeless shelter, probably not feeling great, what would you say to them”?

Najee’s response was, “Like I said, I’ve been in their shoes. I understand how embarrassing it can be to be in that position because I once was…..For the kids that are in that position and that’s struggling and going through these obstacles, I just want to tell them. There’s always light at the end of the tunnel. It may not seem things are going well or things are going your way, but you know, it’s a good saying that always helped me out. Faith is seeing light with your heart when all your eyes see is darkness”.

Opening doors, inspiration, and most importantly, hope for those that look up to him and envision a bright future despite the reality around them, Harris even sought to hold his draft party at the Greater Richmond Interfaith Program.

Although it’s a known story, it’s one to be repeated in the essence of who Harris is past the number 22 jersey. As fans we have the chance to support Najee’s efforts, on his Website Najee.net, all purchases will be donated to his journey to fight homelessness. An act of selflessness that only deserves peace and blessings, perhaps after running down his odds of rookie MVP, the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year could be next in line.