The Pittsburgh Steelers seemed to have had another successful first round draft pick back in 2021 when Kevin Colbert selected Najee Harris out of the University of Alabama. The second year ball carrier heads into training camp next week with the rest of the team, but things will look a bit different this season, especially on the offensive side of the ball as Ben Roethlisberger won't be in the locker room for the first time in nearly two decades.
The Pro Bowl running back joined The Rich Eisen Show on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the changes to the organization including the quarterback situation and stadium name.
Eisen was quick to jump right into the stadium name change and asked what it was going to take to create new memories in the first year of the Steelers' home being known as Acrisure Stadium.
"It's new beginnings," said Harris. "We're building our identity this year. We're trying to start over and we have a new quarterback, so there's a lot of change going around. I think this is a new beginning of the Pittsburgh Steelers and what we're about this year."
Harris continued to express his excitement, but is with many yinzers out there on the pronunciation of Acrisure.
"For me to be a part of it is always a good thing and to create some memories at the new field, Acrisure... I don't even know how to say the name to be honest with you. I was calling it ACME at first."
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)
Eisen brought up the possibility of scoring the first touchdown in the stadium since the name change and Harris loved the idea.
"That would be dope because I was the the last person to score a touchdown at Heinz."
Steelers' Harris Is Impressed With All Three Quarterbacks Thus Far
The interview transitioned into discussion about the quarterback position and the Steelers running back was clear in saying he doesn't know who it will be."
"I'm just a player. I'm not the coach," said Harris. "I'm trying to learn the offense still, learn different positions, learn the ins and outs of the offense. I think we can leave that up to Coach [Matt] Canada and Mike Tomlin for all that stuff."
Harris was, however, very complimentary of the group that they have taking snaps.
"I'll tell you what, though. All the guys that we have there, they all look good. [Mitch] Trubisky, Mason [Rudolph] and of course, Kenny [Pickett]. They all look good. They're all battling it out and taking charge. They are all embracing it for what it is. The competition is what I think brings the best out of all of us in this sport. For them to bring these guys in and compete and battle it out, and know that your job is not secure yet. When this camp starts up, I think we will have a good idea of who's going to be the guy. It's hard to say whose the guy right now."
While many Steelers fans are calling on the organization to get a more formidable backup to Harris in order to give his legs a rest every once in a while, he wants to embrace the workhorse mentality.
"You know, a lot was placed on me last year and I liked that. Ben came to me a lot and told me 'a lot is going to rely on you this year.' I took that and put my head up and I was like alright I'm going to do as much as I can for this team," said Harris. "I did the best I can. We made it to the playoffs so that's always good, but it didn't end the way we wanted to."
Harris continued to talk about the youth on the team in 2021.
"We had a lot of rookies last year and young guys on offense. The experience we have from last year and bring it on from this year, you know, the games that we're in, the difference between college and NFL, speed, learning the X's and O's, learning the differences in alignments and what the defense is seeing and certain types of things, I think that all carries onto this year to find out what's our identity."
Harris was especially complimentary of left tackle, Dan Moore Jr.
"Dan, I don't think he gets enough recognition of what he did at left tackle against all the guys. All of the edge rushers we had last year, he stood his own so I always tip my hat off to him."
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