Pittsburgh Steelers star running back, Najee Harris, is no stranger to adjusting to new weather. Now he is facing the coldest game of his career as the Steelers play the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Eve at Acrisure Stadium. Both teams desperately need a win if they have any hope of proceeding to the postseason.
Aug 12, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) runs off the field after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Harris grew up on the West Coast, in the Bay Area - where there are moderate temperatures with plenty of rain. He attended college in the deep South, at the University of Alabama, and had to adapt to the soaring temperatures and the extreme humidity:
“Boy, I come over to Alabama. Humid as hell, first of all. First practice, I’m over here running with the pads, I pass out. [Coach Nick] Saban’s over there like, ‘Damn it, 22, this isn’t the West Coast.’ I’m over there like, ‘You’re right.’ It was team run, too, so I did one run, went on the sideline. It took me about two years to get adjusted to that, if that, maybe three. It just got hotter and hotter year by year," Harris told NFL Network.
Steelers' Najee Harris Didn’t Know How Cold, Cold Could Be
Then Harris was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in 2021. As autumn started, he was complaining to his teammates about the chill in the air, not fully comprehending how much colder it would get or how much that takes a toll on your body when you play.
“Then – bang -- that’s over with, and I go to Pittsburgh. Boy, that’s cold as hell over there, and they would tell me, ‘It’s not even cold yet, Najee.’ Ben [Roethlisberger] over there saying, ‘It’s going to get colder than this.’ Man, that Detroit game, I got tackled one time. That was the first time I felt all the hits in the NFL was that Detroit game. It was cold as hell. Then I saw snow. It wasn’t my first time seeing snow because it snowed one time in 'Bama, but it was the first time I made a snowman.”
Do you wanna build a snowman? ☃️ pic.twitter.com/ZCgx8f0N8x
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 7, 2022
Now the Steelers are looking at potentially the coldest game in the team’s history. The temperature is predicted to be about 7 degrees, and into the negatives with the wind chill factor.
When asked about it Friday by reporters, Harris had this to say:
“I ain’t gonna lie, I walked outside and it’s hella cold,” according to a video posted by ESPN's Brooke Pryor.
He added that they practiced inside with all the doors open and that made it very cold in the facility. Harris also said he didn’t wear sleeves under his jersey in an attempt to get acclimated to the extreme cold.
The cold weather has only added to the sadness overshadowing the city following the sudden death of Steeler icon, Franco Harris. Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the Immaculate Reception. That play not only won the Steelers that game over the Raiders that day, but it also launched what became the greatest dynasty in the history of football.
Franco Harris rumbling his way to the game-winning score. Photo credit: Steelers.com
The team was set to retire Harris’ jersey number during the halftime show, making him one of only three Steelers to have their number officially retired. Now the organization has announced that it is modifying the celebration and moving many of the activities inside because of the weather.
All eyes are likely to be on Harris and his fellow running back, Jaylen Warren, during tomorrow’s game. With the temperatures being so low, it is expected that both teams will need to rely on their run game. Perhaps all the action will help keep him warm. Fortunately for the Steelers, the Raiders are not a cold-weather team. In addition, Pittsburgh seemed to find its groove last week against the Carolina Panthers, running for 156 yards.
While Harris may not be familiar with playing in weather quite this cold, he has certainly shown to be tough as nails. He will need that toughness to get him through this game.
How do you think the cold weather will impact Harris and the rest of the Steelers? What do you think are the keys to winning against the Raiders? Click to comment below.
#SteelerNation
