“In Pittsburgh, they don’t rebuild—they reload. But sometimes, the bullets are words.” The Pittsburgh Steelers, a franchise built on black-and-gold grit, are navigating an offseason filled with Succession-level drama and Ted Lasso optimism. As Najee Harris takes shots at the team’s leadership (But here’s the plot twist: He’s reuniting with Jim Harbaugh, who once announced his high school’s homecoming queen to recruit him). The franchise flirts with the idea of bringing in Aaron Rodgers, football’s ultimate mercenary.
Let’s start with the numbers because stats don’t lie—they just smirk. Najee Harris racked up 1,043 rush yards and 6 TDs in 2024, marking his fourth straight 1K season—a feat even Franco Harris would respect. But the numbers don’t tell the full story. “We lost a lot of O-line. We just didn’t know anything on offense. ,” Harris admitted. “Really, we didn’t have identity. We had a young guy coming at quarterback. You know, I was young. The team was young. And, I really didn’t have nobody to almost learn from on the offensive side.”
Najee Harris on the Steelers offense:
“We just didn’t know anything on offense really. We didn’t have any identity. We had a young guy coming in at QB. I really didn’t have nobody to almost learn from on the offensive side.”#steelers
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— Matthew Luciow (@matthewluciow92) March 20, 2025
Translation? The Steelers’ post-Ben Roethlisberger era was a Lord of the Flies remake. Harris, a rookie in 2021, found himself in a locker room where “veterans” had fewer seasons under their belt than a TikTok influencer.“I think the veteran guy on that team was like a two-three-year vet. And that’s something, you know what I mean? Like, he’s still learning himself. And I’m coming in and, you know, I’m just trying to look for people to pick their brain off of.”
“I’d ask defensive guys for advice,” he shrugged, ‘but they couldn’t tell me squat about run schemes.’ Imagine asking a firefighter to fix your WiFi. Why This Hurts? Harris wasn’t just a running back—he was a symbol of tradition. In a city that still reveres Jerome Bettis, his departure to the Los Angeles Chargers on a $9.25M “prove-it” deal stings like a Primanti Bros. sandwich without fries. “He’s dope. Everybody thinks he’s weird, but he’s not,” Harris grinned, basically calling Harbaugh the Napoleon Dynamite of NFL coaches.
Post Harbaugh, The Rodgers riddle & Pittsburgh’s QB quest
While Harris settles into L.A., the Steelers are playing The Bachelor with Aaron Rodgers. The Minnesota Vikings bowed out to bet on J.J. McCarthy, leaving Pittsburgh and the New York Giants in a staredown. “Either you want to be a Steeler or you don’t,” growled Cam Heyward. Translation: Tick-tock, A-Rod.
Rodgers’ résumé? Just 62,952 pass yards, 503 TDs, and enough MVPs (four) to fill a trophy case at Lambeau. But at 41, he’s more of a luxury yacht than a quarterback—high maintenance, high reward. The Steelers’ offer? A one-year deal, because in Mike Tomlin’s world, “rebuild” is a dirty word. They’ve also got backup plans: Mason Rudolph (re-signed on a two-year deal), Russell Wilson (if he’s done cosplaying a Bronco), and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe (a draft wildcard).
Pittsburgh’s culture is The Terrible Towel, six Lombardis, and a defense that hits like a steel mill explosion. Adding Rodgers isn’t just about arm talent—it’s about aura. Imagine Rodgers slinging bombs to George Pickens while T.J. Watt hunts QBs. It’s Avengers meets Braveheart. But if he balks? The Steelers’ fallback plan is a QB room that feels like a Survivor cast reunion.
The Steelers’ 2024 season was a 10-7 rollercoaster—think Anora highs (beating the Baltimore Ravens), lows (a playoff faceplant), and a defense that carried the offense like a toddler. Now, they’re at a crossroads: Chase Rodgers’ twilight glory or trust the process with their young QB room.
As for Harris? He’s trading pierogies for fish tacos, swapping black-and-gold grit for Harbaugh’s “Bolt Up” energy. “Playing for Harbaugh just made sense,” he said, like a man who finally found a decent WiFi signal. In Pittsburgh, they’re praying Rodgers chooses hero—preferably with a side of Heinz ketchup. Here we go, Steelers. Here we go.
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