Running back Najee Harris has been as synonymous with Pittsburgh Steelers football as any player over the last four seasons. The former Pro Bowler played in all 17 regular season games in his four-year tenure with the team, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his campaigns.
The Steelers declined to pick up Harris' fifth-year option, leading to him signing a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. Harris has the ability to make an additional $4 million through incentives centered around rushing yards.
Harris spoke to the media on Friday donning a Chargers hat, and he had high praise for the team's facilities, perhaps even throwing some shade in the direction of his former team's amenities.
"It's a great weight room, first of all, even the facilities is all great things. A lot of things that they provide here that you (can) take advantage of. I was telling him, 'it's not like this everywhere, this is a special thing right here.' (It) reminds me of college at Alabama, all the resources that they have. The chance to take advantage of these opportunities in a blessing." Harris said.
"I was telling him, you've got a great thing going here because it's not like this everywhere. It's not."
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If Harris is speaking from first-hand experience, and the Chargers' facilities remind him of Alabama, his only comparisons to draw on are the Steelers, or dating back to high school.
Harris was a four-year standout at Alabama, winning two National Championships on the backs of the great facilities he still praises to this day. As a senior, Harris led the SEC with 1,466 yards, and led all FBS players with 26 touchdowns on the ground and 30 from scrimmage.
In the pros for the Steelers, Harris tallied 28 touchdowns on the ground and 34 from scrimmage. He has amassed over 4,300 yards on the ground, but has drawn criticism for his efficiency, with just a 3.9 yards-per-carry average in the NFL.
Harris has been a workhorse-back for the Steelers, and that doesn't appear to be changing in a Jim Harbaugh offense, backed by a supposedly great weight room.
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This story was originally published March 15, 2025 at 9:00 AM.