5 riskiest Pittsburgh Steelers jersey purchases in 2021

Najee Harris: #22

I know what you are thinking, but I would be remiss if I didn’t at least put this out there. I have no doubts that Najee Harris could be a very good running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Heck, he has the potential to be one of the very best backs in the league, and he could prove to do so as early as his rookie season. However, today’s running backs don’t last nearly as long as they used to.

You may already be aware that running backs have the shortest shelf-life of any position in football. According to Statista.com, the average running back career lasts just 2.57 years. Obviously, as the former 24th overall pick, Harris will last longer. But how much is the question?

We saw a former two-time first-team All-Pro in Le’Veon Bell fall off a cliff after the age of 25 This could partially be because he joined the New York Jets, but his production really started to dive in 2017 – his final year as a starter for the Steelers.

While I can’t say that Najee Harris’s career will fizzle out as fast as Bell’s did, there is typically a correlation between massive workloads and how fast running backs wear down. If you are okay with getting five years out of a Najee jersey, then, by all means, go for it. However, if you are looking for a jersey of a player that will earn a second contract or finish his career in Pittsburgh, I would look elsewhere.