Najee Harris Records First-Career 100-yard Rushing Game
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris recorded his first career 100-yard rushing game on Sunday. Harris ran for 123 yards on 23 carries, the most by a Steelers running back in 30 games. He became the second player in the Super Bowl era with a 100-yard rushing game and a 100-yard receiving game within the first five games of his NFL career.
The former Alabama running back took the spotlight off of himself and celebrated his offensive line during his postgame presser.
"It’s not so much me, I’m more excited of how the O-line did, just because of all the criticism they’ve been taking, and they stuck through it," Harris said. "We never broke.”
The Steelers had struggled to get Harris going through the first four weeks of the season behind some shaky offensive line play. He entered Sunday’s game averaging just 46.2 rushing yards per game.
Harris on what went into improving the Steelers run game this week: “Experience. The more games we play, we get better. The more times you guys criticize us the more we want to go out there and work to get better.”
At 6-foot-2 and 230-pounds, Harris possesses a rare blend of size, speed, power, footwork and pass-catching ability.
Harris has been a valuable piece in the Steelers passing game, he currently leads the team in receptions and yards after the catch. On Sunday, he became the fifth running back in the Super Bowl era with at least 28 receptions in his first five NFL games.
The Steelers will be back at home next week, Sunday, Oct. 17 against the Seattle Seahawks.