Steelers Now
It’s a rare sight to see an NFL linebacker play for two divisional rivals in his career. But that is exactly the case with Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Malik Harrison, who is set to enter his second year in the Steel City.
Harrison played the first five seasons of his career with the Baltimore Ravens, who drafted him in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He made 76 appearances for the Flock, missing just eight total games.
Harrison did not break any new ground by signing with Pittsburgh in free agency; Patrick Queen started the trend in the 2024 offseason. Harrison followed in 2025, inking a two-year deal.
Harrison has been a depth piece in his career, and is currently third on the depth chart at the left inside linebacker spot.
“Everybody is aggressive (here), and I think I just fit in with that. You know, the way that I play,” Harrison said in his introductory press conference last offseason.
In 2025, Harrison sustained a knee injury in Week 1 and was put on injured reserve for six weeks. He returned to play the remaining ten games of the season, and posted 41 tackles across his 11 total contests.
Given his productivity, Harrison would likely have a larger (even starting) role on many teams, but is currently mired in a deep Steelers linebacker room. With names like Queen, Cole Holcomb, Alex Highsmith, Payton Wilson, Nick Herbig and Jack Sawyer in the room, Harrison’s path to a more significant role is far from guaranteed. The depth of the room is a significant reason as to why Harrison’s name was floated as a potential salary cap casualty back in January.
Entering the final year of his deal and with a lot to prove, can Harrison rise to the occasion? He has exciting upside and is in his prime, leaving fans to guess about how he can contribute if he makes final cuts.
Acquired: The Steelers signed Harrison in free agency during the 2025 offseason. He signed a two-year deal.
Last Year: Despite losing five games to injury, Harrison averaged almost four tackles per game. PFF ranked him as the 62nd-best linebacker in the league. He only reached the stat sheet in one other category, recording four stuffs.
Pro Career: Harrison was generally healthy and productive in Baltimore. He finished strong there in 2024, recording a career-high 54 tackles as their no. 2 WLB. He also got two sacks that year, the only sacks of his career thus far. Harrison has 215 career tackles as a pro.
Harrison played for the Ohio State Buckeyes for his entire college career. He paced the team in tackles in 2018 and ’19, and his 16.5 TFLs recorded as a senior is the fourth-most in a season in school history, behind Matt Wilhelm, Andy Katzenmoyer, and former Steeler...
