Steelers running back Najee Harris drops weight to prep for what could be his final season in Pittsburgh
Steelers running back Najee Harris likely will use this season as an audition for bigger money, whether it’s from Pittsburgh or another NFL team in need of a power back.
After all, earlier this month, the Steelers opted not to pick up Harris’ fifth-year option on his rookie contract. This means Harris will be a free agent after this season. Pittsburgh can re-sign him or he can try the market place, where teams tend to devalue running backs.
In the meantime, Harris is prepping for 2024 by dropping weight. This is according to Josh Scott of JRS Performance in Houston. Scott has been working with Harris this offseason. And he gave an update to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about Harris refining his body for the new season.
“It’s all fueling his fire to have an even better season than last year,” Scott told the Post-Gazette. “And prove a lot of people wrong. There’s a lot of people that hate on him for whatever reason, but he’s been as consistent as you can be. He’s durable. I think he’s going to continue with that. I mean, contract season, that pretty much speaks for itself.”
We’re assuming the Steelers star still is angry (in the best possible way). Harris won “Angriest Run of the Year” as presented by Kyle Brandt of NFL Network.
Scott says the Steelers running back has dropped about seven pounds, possibly more. What was the key to weight loss? Well, Harris is “extremely clean — almost obsessively clean — with his diet,” says Scott.
It’s obvious he’s not playing at his listed weight of 242. He played at Alabama at 230, then Pittsburgh selected him in the first round (24th pick) of the 2021 NFL Draft. Scott says his client is about 235.
According to Scott, the Steelers back is sleeping more and drinking more water. He’s also eating better and has dropped process foods from his diet. His diet seems to be fish and vegetables. And there’s a bizarre to this training. Harris feels more energetic at night. That’s why Scott puts him through drills from 9 to 11 p.m.
If Harris is falling out of favor with management — the Steelers declined to pick up his $6.65 million option — then Pittsburgh could start using Jaylen Warren so much more.
Harris led all Steelers rushers last year. In the final game of the regular season, Harris surpassed 1,000 yards for the season. (He totaled 1,035). He’s the only back in team history to rush for at least 1,000 yards on his first three seasons with the Steelers. Warren, who the Steelers signed as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State in 2022, gained 784.
Scott says Harris now is “much more durable, much more nimble dropping that maybe eight or 10 pounds, whatever it was, of body fat. (He) then replac(ed) some of that with some good, lean tissue.” And that’s really shown in his movement. He’s looking really, really springy; really, really light off the ground; and more agile.”