Steelers Now
A former running back of the Pittsburgh Steelers could make his way back to the AFC North.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris looked to prove his worth on a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Chargers last season. However, that is far from what happened after he suffered a torn Achilles, ending any chances of doing that in 2025.
With the 2026 season inching closer, he’s looking for another opportunity, and Moe Moton of Bleacher Report thinks it could come with the Cincinnati Bengals.
“Once seen as one of the league’s most durable, physical running backs, Najee Harris didn’t miss a game in his first four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last offseason, he suffered an eye injury in a fireworks incident and then tore his Achilles tendon in Week 3 of the 2025 campaign,” Moton wrote. “On the back end of his prime years, Harris can still be an early-down contributor in a running back duo or platoon. He’s not an explosive rusher, but his 6’1″, 242-pound frame can be featured in short-yardage and goal-line situations.”
The Bengals already have their lead back in Chase Brown, who led the team with 1,019 rushing yards and six touchdowns last season. But Harris could certainly do the dirty work on first and second downs, just as he has for much of his career, to help keep Brown fresh.
Harris was very reliable during his tenure in Pittsburgh, rushing for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first four seasons.
The question is, would he be interested crossing enemy lines in the AFC North to face his former team at least two times a year?
The Steelers selected Harris with their first-round pick (No. 24 overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Alabama, where he ran for 3,843 yards and 46 touchdowns from 2017-20.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Ex-Steelers Running Back Linked to AFC North Rival
