The Pittsburgh Steelers look to lean on bigger and stronger, second year running back, Najee Harris, during this upcoming season. The star running back sat down with Steelers reporter Missi Matthews Tuesday during Phase Three of Organized Team Activities (OTA's).
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Matthews asked Harris how he is getting to know the new faces on offense.
"Yeah, I mean, you know, contact wise, we're not [able to do football stuff], and that's why I just dislike it, I like the contact part. But right now, this is the perfect time to get to know each other, like you said we do got a lot of new people. We've got a lot of new rookies, we got free agency people we signed. Of course, like Mitch [Trubisky] too, being here at quarterback. And then, you got the two linemen and you've got the receivers, and you've got a lot of people here. So right now, is the perfect time to build a chemistry together. It's a long season, so we've got to be on the same chemistry together. And it's really figuring out what type of people we are, how to talk to them, and get to know each other, man. So, I mean this is the perfect time, like I said, to just lay a foundation of what we want to do, what we accomplish this season. And that's what we're doing right now. I'm mad because there isn't contact, that's just me." Harris said with a laugh and a smile. "And I mean, I'm ready to go any time. That's it, though."
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Matthews asked, "Do you feel like there's a leader on this offense, now that Ben [Roethlisberger]'s not here?"
Harris answered:
"I mean, yeah. So a part of, like, one person you're saying?"
Matthews clarified, "Sure, or multiple, there can be multiple."
"Yeah, so obviously, I'm trying to be that leader, too. But in a team, I feel like there's obviously a leader. But everybody needs to be a leader at their position. For running back, you know I want to help the running backs to a certain type of standard of what we need to do when we get in the game. The receivers, they need to hold the receivers. There's got to be a captain in the receiver's room, having a standard of what it is that needs to be. To what we need to do on the field. Linemen, quarterback, tight ends, you know what I mean. So, I feel like I want to be the leader for the team, but we also need leaders in every position room. And that's why we need to come together. That's why we're here, laying this foundation, who's the guys in the room. So, that's what we're doing right now. But to answer your question, I'll say, yeah, I'm one of them. You can say, Mitch, Pat [Freiermuth], I want it to be Diontae [Johnson], Chase [Claypool], I want it to be everybody. Derek [Watt], too, everybody needs to play a part. So we all can achieve the same goal."
Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Najee Harris(22) participates in Organized Team Activities (OTAs) Tuesday May 24, 2022 at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. (Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers)
Check out the interview in it's entirety here!
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