Najee Harris details free agency process, admits he 'just knew' last season was his last with Steelers

Najee Harris was 1 of the apical prospects successful the 2021 NFL Draft, and the Pittsburgh Steelers utilized their first-round enactment connected the moving back. 

Four years aft helium was the No. 24 pick, Harris' tenure with the Steelers has travel to an end. The Pro Bowler entered the escaped bureau marketplace and agreed to a one-year declaration with the Los Angeles Chargers. 

During his introductory property league with his caller team, Harris admitted helium came to the realization that his clip with the Steelers was moving out.

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Pittsburgh Steelers moving backmost Najee Harris takes portion successful a drill during a signifier May 25, 2022, astatine the Steelers' signifier analyzable successful Pittsburgh.  (Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"Me and manager T [Steelers caput manager Mike Tomlin], we're beauteous adjacent successful definite ways, truthful I benignant of knew what was coming," Harris said. "I didn't program connected doing it. It wasn't thing that was successful the program oregon anything." 

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At past month's NFL Scouting Combine successful Indianapolis, Steelers wide manager Omar Khan said the squad hadn't "closed the door" connected Harris returning.

Harris said helium was ever alert of the concern broadside of the NFL. 

"But it's a business. Coach T told maine that erstwhile I was a rookie. Even successful my past year, helium would archer me, ‘This is the concern broadside of things,’" Harris added. "I conscionable took that, and I understood it. I conscionable knew that would beryllium my past year. … Maybe, like, halfway done the extremity of the season, I benignant of knew that."

Pittsburgh Steelers caput manager Mike Tomlim, left, and moving backmost Najee Harris (22) speech during warmups earlier a crippled against the Baltimore Ravens astatine Acrisure Stadium successful Pittsburgh Nov. 17, 2024. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)

While Harris experienced immoderate ups and downs successful Pittsburgh, his wide accumulation was consistent. He finished each 4 of his seasons with the Steelers with astatine slightest 1,000 rushing yards. He was besides durable, appearing successful each 68 regular-season games during his four-year tally with the storied franchise.

Steelers moving backmost Najee Harris runs the shot adjacent the Ravens' extremity enactment against the Baltimore Ravens astatine M&T Bank Stadium Jan. 6, 2024, successful Baltimore. (Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Harris did person to contend with immoderate instability on Pittsburgh's violative enactment and immoderate turnover astatine the backmost presumption during his stint with the Steelers. Harris shared passionate comments aft the Steelers dropped a crippled to the Cleveland Browns midway done the 2023 season. The squad aboriginal moved connected from violative coordinator Matt Canada.

The Steelers declined to workout Harris' fifth-year enactment past year.

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Harris expressed excitement astir the endowment on the Chargers' violative line.

"The individuality is what makes the plays, the integrity of however it is," Harris said. "And that's what brought maine here. Watching their games passim the season, to spot however their O-line works, however bully their enactment is and however they decorativeness and the integrity that they bring. 

"I consciousness similar that's what makes the plays is the O-line. They person a bully O-line here, truthful I conscionable privation to instrumentality advantage." 

Harris rushed for 4,312 yards successful his 4 seasons with the Steelers. He added 83 yards connected the crushed implicit 3 postseason games.

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