Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris is settling into his new home with the Los Angeles Chargers, but he hasn’t held back when discussing his time in Pittsburgh.
After four seasons with the Steelers, Harris is reflecting on his experience and pointing out what he sees as key shortcomings in the team’s culture, particularly on offense.
Najee Harris on Steelers’ lack of leadership
Harris, who recorded four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons in Pittsburgh, recently spoke about the lack of leadership and direction on the Steelers’ offensive unit.
In an interview with CBS Los Angeles, he expressed frustration over the absence of veteran guidance and a clear identity.
“We just didn’t know anything on offense really. We didn’t have any identity,”Harris said.
“We had a young guy coming in at QB. I really didn’t have nobody to almost learn from on the offensive side.”
The Steelers’ offensive struggles were well-documented, with former offensive coordinator Matt Canada often criticized for predictable play-calling.
Even after his departure, and with Arthur Smith stepping in, Harris still felt something was missing.
Reflecting on his Pittsburgh tenure, Harris admitted it was a learning experience but implied he didn’t reach his full potential within the system.
“My time in Pittsburgh, it was a lot of learning things, a lot of learning experiences,”Harris said.
“Playing for Mike T, playing in that division, there were a lot of ways I didn’t even realize what the NFL was really about until I came to Pittsburgh.I don’t want to go into detail with it, but I feel there was a lot of stuff in my game where I could’ve elevated more and I could’ve did more. I feel like I just didn’t get it done. I feel like I was obviously missing something. … It was interesting years there, I’ll just say that. Interesting years.”
This isn’t the first time Harris has made headlines for comments about his former team.
During his introductory press conference with the Chargers, he praised the organization’s facilities while seemingly taking another shot at Pittsburgh.
“It’s a great weight room, first of all,” Harris said.
“Even the facility, it’s all great things. A lot of things that they provide here you can take advantage of. I was telling them, it’s not like this everywhere, man. This is a special thing right here.”
While Harris was a reliable contributor in Pittsburgh, some critics argue his production was a result of high usage rather than efficiency.
Now, with a fresh start in Los Angeles, he’ll have the opportunity to prove himself in a new system.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are still searching for stability on offense, including deciding on a starting quarterback for the upcoming season.
As Harris moves forward, it remains to be seen whether he will continue to speak out about his time in Pittsburgh or if he’ll let his performance on the field do the talking.
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