Steelers' Najee Harris Blasts NFL Over Running Back Disrespect

The Pittsburgh Steelers star joined a list of top running backs on social media.

PITTSBURGH -- Top running backs around the NFL are joining together to give their thoughts about the current market of the position. And as names like Derrick Henry, Austin Ekler and others voice their opinions, so has Pittsburgh Steelers runner Najee Harris. 

Harris joined a long thread of running backs on Twitter to express their displeasure with a shrinking market. After the franchise tag deadline passed and two of the NFL's top five runners from 2022 - Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs - were left without long-term deals, social media exploded with posts blasting the "joke" of teams undervaluing the position. 

"I agree with my running back brothers around the NFL- history will show that you need running backs to win- we set the tone every game and run through walls for our team and lead in many ways- this notion that we deserve less is a joke," Harris wrote on Twitter. 

I agree with my running back brothers around the NFL- history will show that you need running backs to win- we set the tone every game and run trough walls for our team and lead in many ways- this notion that we deserve less is a joke. https://t.co/rWJkGIEgmW

— Najee Harris (@ohthatsNajee22) July 17, 2023

This isn't the first time Harris has voiced his opinion on the running back market. After Dalvin Cook's release from the Minnesota Vikings, he gave his two cents on the decline of backs around the league and the lack of high-paying contracts for these players after four years. 

"They say what they say about the running back. They say the position is kind of going downwards but if you looked at some of the offenses, the running back is featured a lot," Harris said. "So, just what the guys were saying, just show a little more appreciation, you know. Obviously, it’s a rough position. What we’re asked to go through, it’s probably one of the roughest positions. I’m just advocating and I agree with pretty much what those guys are saying. I’m a running back myself and I’m pretty sure any running backs who will want to come into the league or just even people going around and telling them, 'if you want to get paid, don’t be a running back.'"

Harris is coming off two back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and has another year left before the team will negotiate his second NFL contract. At 25-years-old entering his third NFL season, though, it's uncertain if he'll be in the same boat many of these stars are in two years. 

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