He was a two-time College Football Playoff National Champion and the best statistical running back at the University of Alabama, but Najee Harris never garnered team captain honors.
He is making big moves in his second NFL season. After exploding onto the scene as a rookie, the Pittsburgh Steelers named its former first-round pick of the 2021 NFL Draft as a team captain. Harris finished second in the league among running backs for carries (307) and fourth for rushing yards (1,200). He collected 10 total touchdowns and 467 yards receiving for the Steelers.
Our 2⃣0⃣2⃣2⃣ team captains:@ohthatsNajee22@CamHeyward
Miles Killebrew@Mtrubisky10@_TJWatt📝: https://t.co/vyUjtrr6Qt pic.twitter.com/EV4wIgcivI
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 5, 2022
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh’s head coach, sees a leader in the California native. He is excited about Harris’ potential growth in the league. The Steelers offense will run through Harris as Mitch Trubisky has been named the starting quarterback for week one.
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Derrick Henry, a former Alabama standout, is the highest-paid back in the league. Harris is rising quickly as the next star.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.