The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long and storied history at the running back position. Franco Harris and Jerome Bettis, both in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, get the most attention. Players like Le’Veon Bell, Barry Foster, and Willie Parker also experienced varying degrees of success in Pittsburgh. However, James Conner is a more recent name that might not get as much love. Former Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster named Conner as the most underrated player that he’s ever been teammates with.
“I felt like he was someone who could do it all.” Smith-Schuster said recently on the Arrowhead Addict podcast. “You look at his resumé, he’s constantly a top-10 running back in the league. Obviously, last year he got injured, but I feel like he’s someone who’s having a great career. I know he’s coming back even stronger, faster for this upcoming year.”
Smith-Schuster and Conner were both part of the Steelers’ 2017 draft class, each Day 2 picks. They were teammates for four seasons, with Conner leaving Pittsburgh after the 2020 season. While he never rushed for 1,000 yards in a season with the Steelers, he was still effective, making the Pro Bowl in his first year as the starter in 2018.
Conner was a local product, being from Erie, Pennsylvania, and going to the University of Pittsburgh. Also, he beat cancer while in college, endearing him even more to those who followed his career.
While Conner’s career in Pittsburgh started well, injuries held him back. That led to the team letting him walk in free agency. Conner signed with the Arizona Cardinals, and he’s thrived there for the past five seasons. That includes making another Pro Bowl in 2021, when he ran for 15 touchdowns, and rushing for over 1,000 yards in 2023 and 2024.
While he suffered a foot injury last year that limited him to only three games, the Cardinals reworked Conner’s deal to keep him. He once again figures to be a focal point of their offense.
Conner hasn’t ever been the best running back in the league, but Smith-Schuster is correct that he’s put together a nice career, especially considering the adversity that he’s battled. While things didn’t work out for him in Pittsburgh, he’s shown that he’s a capable NFL player.
Recommended for you