PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Mike Tomlin was asked about the similarities of the Steelers top two sack leaders of all-time this week, the Steelers head coach laughed and said it might be easier to talk about their differences.
James Harrison is being inducted into the team's Hall of Honor on Saturday and will be recognized at halftime on Sunday. Tomlin said Harrison and TJ Watt are similar in terms of their approaches and commitment.
"If you know either guy on what they're willing to do in preparation to tee up a performance, not only in the course of a game week, but I'm talking about
over a course of a12-month calendar," Tomlin said. "Over the course of their careers, is unique. You don't get unique results by doing regular processes.
Those two dudes have a commitment to preparation and the development of their games, and the maintenance of their bodies, and the preparation to their bodies, which is unique."
As Tomlin might say, Harrison's resume needs no endorsement. An undrafted free agent who was released by three teams, including the Steelers, went on to become the team's all-time leading sacker with 80.5 in 107 starts, 177 games in total. He finished with 772 tackles as a Steeler, 122 tackles for loss, 142 quarterback hits, eight fumble recoveries, seven interceptions including one of the most memorable plays in Super Bowl history.
Here is what some current Steelers and the Steelers defensive coordinator, who coached for the Cardinals in Super Bowl 43, said about Harrison.
"He was a killer on the edge," said DC Teryl Austin. "He just man handled folks. I got to see that up close and personal when I was at Baltimore. We played the
Steelers, and you just watch him and he just man handled the end. He did a great job in terms of rushing because he was so strong. Heck of a rusher in terms of leverage. He's obviously an unbelievable player."
"I wasn't a Steelers fan growing up, but James Harrison was one of the players that I watched," said Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith. "Seeing some of the moves that he did. How he was able to bend around the corner and what he did was so awesome. When I was in college I would watch his film dipping around the edge because he was one of the best to do it."
"That's a dude that left it out there," said Steelers linebacker Cole Holcomb. "That dude played with zero regard for whether he hurt himself or not. When someone is playing like that, that's a bad man. I got a tremendous amount of respect for him."
"He freakin', he's James Harrison. He's Deebo. Everyone knows who he is, I grew up watching his highlights."
"He played hard," said Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander. "He started on special teams on first and made his way up. He came a long way. Those guys have chips on their shoulders. He came out and proved to the league who he is and now he's going to the Hall of Honor.
We are all trying to get to that."
"As soon as he stepped on the field, there was an expectation of how physical and tenacious that he played," said Steelers linebacker TJ Watt. "It was every aspect of the game. Coach Tomlin always talks about the special teams aspect of it. He had interceptions, just an overall game-wrecker and a guy who did it for a long time.
"Very happy for James, I actually just talked to him the other day. A good guy, I haven't seen him in a while. I'm very happy he'll get the good honor and I'm sure the fans will support him this weekend."
"He was a dominant force," said Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. "He was a force that guys knew where he was at all times. He was a game-wrecker. A guy that could change the course of a game with one play, no matter where he was. A guy like him, there is a reason why he's being honored in the way that he is."
"I respect it because he earned it," said Steelers linebacker Markus Golden. "He earned everything he got. Nothing was given to him. In this league, usually if you come in as a first-round pick or one of the top guys, you get a little leeway. A guy like him, that went undrafted to now going into the Hall of Honor. It shows you he earned everything he got because when you are undrafted, people don't have your back. He earned everything he got."
"You are a guy that no one believes in you and you went and took it. You believe in yourself and really work, you never know what can happen, maybe you end up in the Hall of Honor."
