Behind the Steel Curtain
Breaking down the current state of Pittsburgh’s RB position
With the 2024-25 NFL season one game away from its conclusion, it is time for some impactful decisions to be made. The Pittsburgh Steelers will once again be at the forefront of the NFL media this offseason as they have question marks at various crucial positions.
One of those crucial positions is in the backfield at running back. Both Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are free agents (with Warren being a restricted free agent), looking for new deals — whether that be with the Steelers or not. So, let us take a deeper look into the Steelers’ running back room and whether or not re-signing Harris or Warren is a good idea for 2025 and beyond.
Believe it or not, Harris has been an NFL back for four seasons. In those four years, he is the only running back in the NFL that has eclipsed 1,000 or more yards each season. Despite a mixed bag of praise and criticism, the stats do not lie. So, here are some of Harris’ notable stats over his tenure thus far in Pittsburgh.
While Harris’ main flaw has been his end zone appearances, the rest of his resume is rather impressive. The young running back has proven to take care of the football with just five fumbles in four years. He has also shown Iron Man tendencies, as he has yet to miss a start in his NFL career.
With Harris in the backfield, you are guaranteed grit on every snap. He is a physical runner who fights for every yard and is not afraid to get his hands dirty. He has made a handful of highlight plays for the black and gold during his time here and will no doubt continue making those plays wherever he ends up.
In a league that requires more from their running backs than ever, Harris quietly performs at a high level. Fans and media are quick to criticize the Alabama product, but it is hard to picture a Steelers’ team without 22 in the backfield.
Oklahoma State’s Warren has proven to be one of the true underdog stories in the NFL. The undrafted 2022 signing for Pittsburgh has more than panned out. At 5-foot-8 and 215 pounds, the bowling ball has wrecked his fair share of opponents in his three years with the black and gold. Here are Warren’s key statistics with a slightly smaller sample size than Harris’s.
Granted that Warren has primarily served as the backup to Harris during his three years, he too comes...
