Jerome Bettis Second-Guesses 1 Steelers Offseason Move

The Pittsburgh Steelers are starting over again behind center with Aaron Rodgers and have a new top wide receiver in D.K. Metcalf. But they also elected to go in a different direction in the backfield, not re-signing former first-round pick Najee Harris.

Steelers Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis supported the moves to add Rodgers and Metcalf during an exclusive interview with Pro Football Sports Network’s Alex Kennedy. But Bettis questioned the decision to allow Harris to walk in free agency.

“I thought Najee, you saw him from his first year to his last year, he developed and grew every year as a running back, and I was impressed with him at the end of his run in Pittsburgh,” Bettis said. “I thought he was someone that if they had re-signed him, it would’ve made a lot of sense.

“The fact that they did not, I understand it, but still, he’s one of those guys that if you would’ve re-signed him, there would not have been a question mark about that signing at all because he’s definitely deserving of another contract.”

Steelers Replaced Najee Harris With Third-Rounder Kaleb Johnson

Harris was a bit of an enigma during his Steelers tenure. He rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons in Pittsburgh and never missed a game. As a rookie, Harris posted a career-high 1,200 rushing yards with 10 total touchdowns and led the league with 381 touches.

He reached those statistics with less-than-stellar quarterback play.

While that should be taken into account, Harris was never particularly efficient with the Steelers. He averaged 3.9 yards per carry, which dwarfed what Jaylen Warren produced with the same quarterback and offensive line.

Harris staying healthy was great. But the fact he never missed a game meant he only needed to average about 60 rushing yards per game to eclipse the 1,000-rushing yard mark in a season.

Harris finished with under 1,050 rushing yards in each of his last three 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

Instead of re-signing Harris, the Steelers elected to draft Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson. The team selected Johnson, who led the Big 10 in rushing last year, at No. 83 overall in the third round.

Harris Suffers Eye Injury During Fireworks Accident

Bettis added that he expects the Los Angeles Chargers to like what they’ll get from Harris this season. The Chargers signed him to a one-year, $5.25 million contract.

To produce in 2025, though, Harris now has to overcome an eye injury.

On July 10, Harris’ agent, Doug Hendrickson, released a statement that the running back sustained a superficial eye injury at a July 4 event.

“Harris was present at a 4th of July even where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz posted on X. “Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.”

Other attendees at the event sustained more serious injures. The San Francisco Chronicle’s David Hernandez reported one person went to the hospital after he lost fingers in the accident at the event.

It’s not clear if Harris’ eye injury took place before or after Bettis’ injury with PFSN.

Harris has 4,312 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in his NFL career. He also tallied 5,461 yards from scrimmage and 34 total touchdowns in four seasons with the Steelers.