Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris has been vocal about his time in the Steel City since inking a one-year $5.25 million base deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. After four seasons in Pittsburgh, Harris departs with 4,312 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns, having impressively reached 1,000 rushing yards in each of his seasons despite offensive struggles.
Harris' physicality mirrored the philosophy built by rushers before him, but Arthur Smith's offense lacked progression. Eventually, his unit needed a change, and Najee was the first on the chopping block.
The truth of Najee Harris' situation with the Steelers was evident. He served as a cornerstone for an offense lacking a clear identity. The former first-round pick was a light for a group amid a storm.
A positive demeanor could not hide a negative experience. So, Harris has not minced words about his challenges.
Najee Harris' comments on the Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive struggles are hard to ignore
While Harris expressed gratitude for his time under head coach Mike Tomlin, he has been candid about the difficulties he endured in Pittsburgh’s offensive system. Harris didn’t shy away from admitting the shortcomings he perceived during his tenure during an interview with CBS Los Angeles.
“We just didn’t know anything on offense really,” Harris revealed. “We didn’t have any identity. We had a young guy coming in at QB. I really didn’t have nobody to almost learn from on the offensive side.”
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His comments shed light on the instability that plagued the Steelers’ offense during his tenure. Despite his success, Harris acknowledged that he could have done more in a better-structured environment.
“I don’t want to go into detail with it," Harris continued. "But I feel like there was a lot of stuff in my game where I could have elevated more, and I could have done more."
The split between Harris and the Steelers appears to have raised more concerns than it resolved. His departure underscores a lingering issue that has haunted Pittsburgh for years—an offense struggling to establish a true identity.
With Harris gone, the Steelers now turn to their next generation of running backs, hoping to find a player capable of meeting or surpassing the standard he set.
Ultimately, Harris’ remarks are a stark reminder that Pittsburgh’s offensive issues extend beyond personnel changes. If the Steelers fail to make meaningful progress in the upcoming season, his words will only further validate the ongoing concerns surrounding their offensive philosophy.