Steelers' Najee Harris' Improved New Look Will Last With Russell Wilson At QB Against The Jets

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the most successful franchises in the NFL for more than 50 years. In that time, they established themselves as a dominant ground-and-pound team that loved to play a smashmouth style of football. Unsurprisingly, they won six Super Bowls based on their love of running the ball. 

That's why it shouldn't have surprised anyone when they drafted Najee Harris in the first round of 2021. However, Harris has not performed at the level many expected. When the franchise brought in new Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith, for 2024, optimism soared that Harris would have his best season. However, that hasn't been the case.  

Harris had a big game against the Las Vegas Raiders. While the Vegas defense has not been strong against the run, Mark Kaboly from The Pat McAfee Show said that doesn't mean Harris isn't performing better this season. He recently joined the Joe Starkey Show on 93.7 The Fan and was asked about Harris looking better in Week 6.

"I think he's been like that all year. I thought he's obviously trimmed down; he's got speed, he's got burst. I've said in the past he looks like a different guy in practice then you see him in the game, and you're like, 'Ok, this is not the same guy I saw in practice,' but he was able to carry that over this week."

Harris had 14 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown in Week 6. He averaged 7.6 yards per carry, his best this season, with the longest being 36 yards. He is a big-bodied back who is hard to bring down, yet you are as likely to see him hurdling defenders as you are to see him dragging three behind him while he picks up yardage.  

Harris is a polarizing player in the Steel City. He has had over 1,000 yards each season with the team, and that success has come despite the team's many offensive weaknesses. Kaboly said he's playing with a chip on his shoulder, as his fifth-year option was declined, but also believes Harris will continue to improve as the season progresses, especially if Head Coach Mike Tomin changes quarterback from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson.  

"It should help him, maybe more than anybody, if Russell Wilson gets the start," added Kaboly. "Because now you're going to have to loosen up the box. They've been throwing eight-man boxes at him for the majority of the season. I don't care who you are; it's gonna be tough sledding, especially with the offensive line having their seventh different combo in there. That should show through a little bit more with him, a little bit of play-action. I've always thought he was a very talented guy whose numbers aren't there because he doesn't ever have those big runs. He got a couple of big runs the other day, and all of a sudden, there's his 100-yard game."

Kaboly also believes Harris will continue to have big games as Jaylen Warren reintegrates from his injury. Harris' "sweet spot" is around 14-16 carries a game, and he had more when Warren was out. It also appears that everyone will get a chance to see if he does play better with Wilson leading the team, as Tomlin has said to be leaning that direction. 

Steelers' Najee Harris Got High Praise 

While the fans might still be down on Harris, his quarterback wasn't. After the Raiders game, Fields heaped praise upon Harris for his performance. Fields joked with the media that it must have been something Harris ate because he balled out. The hope is that this will be the Harris that continues to play. 

Harris and Fields have been the running forces on the Steelers' offense all year. Fields has five rushing touchdowns, and while Harris has only had one so far, he is credited with helping the other ones happen. During the Raiders game, Fields said the defense bit on a fake to Harris, which allowed him to run the ball into the end zone.