Pittsburgh, PA – July 13, 2025
They said he was done.
The critics whispered it. Some fans shouted it. Others just stayed quiet and moved on. After back-to-back seasons of frustration and fading production, it seemed like the NFL had already closed the book on him. In a league that forgets fast, running backs don’t get the benefit of doubt — not in Pittsburgh, not anywhere.
But Pittsburgh is a city built on grit. On redemption. On proving people wrong.
And if there’s one man who embodies that fire heading into the 2025 season, it’s Najee Harris.
Once the face of a reborn Steelers offense, Harris had watched as the narrative turned against him. Yards per carry dipped. Explosiveness was questioned. Some even called for him to be benched or traded. But behind the scenes, Najee never stopped grinding. He didn’t run to the media. He didn’t fire back on social. He just got to work.
"They can count me out if they want," Harris told Steelers Radio in a recent interview. "But I never stopped working — and I damn sure haven’t stopped believing in Pittsburgh."
This offseason, everything changed. Reports from training camp are turning heads — Harris is leaner, faster, and angrier. The chemistry with new quarterback Russell Wilson is already drawing comparisons to the old-school bruising days of Bettis and Big Ben. And with a revamped offensive line that finally looks like a Steelers line, Najee is positioned not just for a comeback — but a takeover.
For new OC Arthur Smith, Harris isn’t just another piece — he’s the engine. The sledgehammer. The spark plug. In a division dominated by speed and flash, the Steelers are bringing back bully ball, and Najee is holding the hammer.
"They said I was done. So I’m going to show them — and bring that trophy back where it belongs."
— Najee Harris via The Athletic
In a season that will define Mike Tomlin’s legacy and shape the future of this proud franchise, Harris isn’t just playing for a contract. He’s playing for respect. For Pittsburgh. For every kid who ever got told he wasn’t enough.
Steelers Nation knows what this city is about.
Now they get to see if Najee Harris can remind the NFL.
