Report: Najee Harris signs with Los Angeles Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers have signed running back Najee Harris to a one-year contract, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. The deal is worth $9.25 million, per the report.

Harris, 27, finds a new home in Los Angeles after spending the first four years of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Harris leaves the Steelers with 1,097 attempts to his name for 4,312 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and 28 touchdowns.

One of the more durable backs in the NFL, Harris 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 last summer.

“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.”

Chargers make splash signing in Najee Harris

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. 

Harris and Los Angeles seem like a perfect match. 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.