Report: Los Angeles Chargers pursuing Najee Harris, hope to close deal

The Los Angeles Chargers are “pursuing” running back Najee Harris and hope to close a deal, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Harris, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is one of the more durable backs in the NFL. The 27-year-old hasn’t missed a game in his career. He’s the only tailback with 1,000 rushing yards in each of the last four seasons.

Despite the numbers, Pittsburgh declined his fifth-year option and seems content letting him get paid elsewhere. While the production has been solid, it’s not nearly what the Steelers expected when they selected him in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Harris will leave the Steelers with 1,097 attempts to his name for 4,312 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and 28 touchdowns.

“I was disappointed for a minute, but I mean like, there’s nothing really where, you know, me sitting around being disappointed for too long would do anything to help me out,” Harris said of his fifth-year option not being picked up. “… I think that it is what it is. And you just got to keep it pushing and knowing that coming out here and doing what’s best for the team and having a good year is what’s most important right now. … Yeah, I was [disappointed] for a minute, like a couple of days, and it just went past my mind so fast.”

Najee Harris appears set to leave Steelers

Pittsburgh put a lot more faith into Jaylen Warren over the last three years, hoping to form a one-two punch. Warren has rushed for 1,674 yards on 4.8 yards per carry. The Steelers tendered an offer to Warren on Monday, reserving the right to retain him by matching any offer sheet he would sign with another team. 

NFL insider Josina Anderson said that Harris began saying his goodbyes to some of his Steelers teammates on Sunday in preparation for free agency. But if the Chargers are his next destination, there are worst places to end up as a running back.

Jim Harbaugh wants to run the ball. The Chargers were league average on the ground in Harbaugh’s first season at the helm. Harris could help and best of all, he’s only fumbled five times in 1,277 NFL touches. Harbaugh has to love that.