PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – It has been an eye opening off season for Najee Harris. Not because of any deal the Steelers made or didn’t make. Not because of who they drafted. It’s been tough for him to see the devaluation of his position.
Back in the day, running backs were football royalty. From Jim Brown to Franco Harris, Tony Dorsett, Walter Payton, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Jerome Bettis-they were some of the biggest names in their era. Now thousand-yard running backs are being tossed to the curb.
Davin Cook, 27, had 1,173 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns in 2022. Cook has four straight one-thousand-yard seasons with a total of 46 touchdowns. He’s unemployed. Ezekiel Elliott, 27, had four thousand-yard seasons for Dallas. Unemployed. Saquon Barkley, 26, is one of the most dynamic players and plays in the biggest market and hasn’t been able to get a new contract despite a career-high in yards and 10 touchdowns. Miles Sanders helped Philly to an NFC Championship rushing for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns and there was little effort to re-sign him. The highest paid running back is San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey, a two-way nightmare, yet his $16 million per year average salary in 2023 is 103rd in the NFL. Steelers WR Diontae Johnson will make $18.35 million.
Harris would like to see more appreciation for his position. He said it’s one of the rougher positions in the sport and it’s still featured by offenses. He started to blame the media, as if it’s what is written that is affecting the position when in reality it’s what many teams have decided about the position.
Having recently turned 25-years-old, Harris is advocating for running backs. Saying it’s crazy that teams are seemingly putting an age limit on ball carriers.
“The position is an art to me,” Harris said. “I will always love the position. They can do so much. It’s like a queen in chess because you can do a lot of things-lineup out wide, run the ball, protection. Can be an impact in the offense so much. For them to say it’s a position without value is kinda crazy.”
No position in the sport has a shorter career lifespan than running back. Harris said he is doing what he can physically to make sure he can play as long as possible. He uses the example set by NBA legend LeBron James who spends millions on keeping his body right.
“You can’t stop time,” Harris admits. “I can’t do anything about that. All I can do is take care of my body and show them that I’m still available. The best ability is availability.”
He’s available now, but already missed time with a foot injury last season. If Harris can stay healthy he might get his five-year option picked up, and maybe a reasonable contract offer, like LeVeon Bell did. In that occasion, Bell thought he was worth more and turned down nearly what McCaffrey is making this year.
What will be the value of a running back in two years?
Building on 2023
Harris believes running back will be a huge position for the Steelers offense in 2023. The team was top 10 in rushing in the NFL the second half of last year.
“I feel like we found our identity,” Harris said. “Early on we didn’t know what we were. There was a lot of stuff going on especially at the quarterback position, bringing new guys in. It took until the bye week to figure out what we do best and that’s playing Steeler football. Run the ball, we have a good defense. We have good players on the outside, so we try to get them the ball in space, downfield. But we have to control the line, we have to control that run game. We got into an area where we found out who we are.”
Keeping that identity going into this season requires full attention in practice. All that is done on the field, in the film room, in the locker room needs to be accomplished with a purpose. He said if they continue to perfect the small details that will play a big role in seeing success in a game.
“The game should be easy,” Harris said. “It should just be execution. That’s what we got better at last year.”
Look out NFL
“I think we are going to surprise a lot of people,” Harris said. “I’m excited just looking at it. From where we first started last year, we are a lot better now-execution, the people staying out (for practice) longer.”
“The standard is actually being the standard out here.”