The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some of the most recognizable running backs in the history of the National Football League, from Franco Harris in the 1970s to Jerome Bettis in the 1990s and 2000s. Perhaps the next great running back of the Steelers is Najee Harris. A first-round pick out of Alabama in 2021, Harris has quickly established himself as one of the most talented running backs the game has ever seen.
One of the things that makes Harris so special is his physicality. At 6'2 and 230 pounds, he is a punishing runner who can break tackles and wear down defenses. He also has tremendous speed for his size and can make defenders miss in the open field. Often trying, and successfully, hurdling them. Harris has drawn comparisons to Bettis, who was known for his bruising running style and ability to finish off games. If Harris can continue to develop his game and stay healthy, he truly could be in line to be the next great Steelers running back.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Jerome Bettis runs in for a one-yard score against the Cleveland Browns at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on November 13, 2005. (Photo by Sean Brady/NFLPhotoLibrary)
Najee had a promising rookie season. He rushed for 1,200 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, while also adding 74 receptions for 467 yards and three touchdowns. He finished this past season with 1,034 yards rushing and seven touchdowns in addition to his 41 receptions for 229 yards and three touchdowns. Najee started out the 2022 season slow, only rushing for 361 yards in his first eight games. There were many reports that a foot injury was hindering his ability to accelerate. However, as he often does, Najee was much better in the second half.
Over the last nine games, Harris rushed for 671 yards and once again reestablished himself as a premier running back in the NFL. Harris has proven to be a true three-down back for the Steelers, with his ability to run between the tackles, catch passes out of the backfield and pass block. However, with the emergence of a young undrafted rookie in 2022, he was not held solely responsible for managing the workload of the Steelers’ rushing attack. Enter Jaylen Warren.
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris is introduced before an NFL game against the Cleveland Browns on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
Jaylen Warren was perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2022 season for the Steelers. Warren was relatively unknown coming into training camp and was widely viewed as a practice player who had an incredibly slim chance of cracking the practice squad, let alone the 53-man roster. Warren went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft but signed with the Steelers as a free agent out of Oklahoma State.
In the 2022 preseason, he showed flashes of potential, proving his ability to run the ball with power in between the tackles as well as catch passes out of the backfield. Warren’s nice blend of speed and power lends well as a change of pace to the brute force that Najee Harris brings. He finished this past season with 379 yards rushing with one touchdown and also hauled in an impressive 28 receptions for 214 yards. While these stats may not be eye-popping, Warren’s biggest impact comes in another way. Giving Najee Harris a much-needed breather.
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Mike Tomlin and the Steelers coaching staff have always been hesitant to adopt the “running back by committee” philosophy that nearly every other team in the league uses. Think of the Le’Veon Bell years where it seemed as if he never came off of the field, not even on third downs. Eventually, the wear and tear took its toll on Bell, and he was never quite the same player after leaving Pittsburgh.
Many fans feared that the same thing would happen to Najee if the Steelers were not careful. Fortunately, Jaylen Warren has soothed these fears. Mike Tomlin has praised Warren for his contributions, or as Coach Tomlin so eloquently phrases it, "putting his hand in the pile." Following the Week 1 win over Cincinnati this past season, Tomlin had this to say regarding Warren.
"He didn't urinate down his leg and that's a great place to begin. That's why he's gone from undrafted to carving out a role for himself," Tomlin said.
He is the perfect complement to Najee and excels as a third-down-back in the Kenny Pickett lead offense. Warren is a willing blocker in pass protection, does exceedingly well in hitting the holes on run plays and has proven himself to be a legitimate threat out of the backfield to make defenders miss with his route running as a receiver. He truly has been a Godsend for the Steelers. With his spot on the 53-man roster next year all but locked up, he has the ability this offseason to fully immerse himself in the Steelers’ offense and fully focus on being the best possible player he can be for this team.
By the Steelers adding a capable second running back, they have essentially extended the career of Najee Harris by a matter of years. The two have an extremely bright future ahead of them and will be the driving force behind carrying on the proud tradition of the Pittsburgh Steelers run game. Jaylen Warren truly is the best thing that could have ever happened to the career of Najee Harris.
How Do We Feel About The Future Of The Steelers' Run Game, SteelerNation?
Let us know in the comments about how confident you feel in both Harris and Warren! Are there any other free agents or upcoming rookie running backs you would like the Steelers to look at?
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