Steelers Departure Called Trade Candidate Months After Signing With New Team

Things don’t appear to be going very well for former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris, who was recently labeled a pre-training camp trade candidate after just signing with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency.

When Harris first inked a one-year deal with the Chargers, it felt like the perfect landing spot. After all, Los Angeles needed a new RB1, and head coach Jim Harbaugh loves to run the football.

Everything was set up for Harris to have a big season ahead of another test of the free agent market in 2026. Until the NFL draft.

“Harris is on a one-year deal and may not be viewed as a long-term piece for L.A.,” Bleacher Report analyst Kristopher Knox wrote on June 21 after identifying Harris as an early trade candidate. “The Chargers also drafted Omarion Hampton with the No. 22 overall pick in April, and the North Carolina product might walk into an every-down role.”

Knox did acknowledge that “Jim Harbaugh loves to lean on the ground game, and he’d probably rather have too much backfield depth than too little,” but he still wasn’t convinced Harris’ place in Los Angeles is totally safe.

“Teams in need of running back help would at least be wise to call about Harris’ availability,” Knox argued. “While he was never a high-level starter with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was a dependable high-volume back who topped 1,000 rushing yards in all four campaigns.”

The oddest part of this early trade speculation was what came next.

NFL Writer Suggests Cowboys &… Steelers as Potential Trade Fits for Najee Harris

As Knox continued discussing Harris as a possible trade candidate, he named two landing spots that he deemed to be “potential suitors.” And the Steelers were actually one of them! Along with the Dallas Cowboys, which makes more sense than a Pittsburgh reunion.

“Dallas should consider adding Harris as a high-floor option in its backfield,” Knox wrote. Adding: “The Steelers may actually want to consider bringing back the 27-year-old now that they have their quarterback in [Aaron] Rodgers.”

“Pittsburgh signed Kenneth Gainwell, drafted Kaleb Johnson and is preparing to give Jaylen Warren a bigger workload,” he continued. “However, it’s also admitted losing Harris will impact its backfield plan.”

Knox concluded that “supporting Rodgers with a good ground game should be high on Pittsburgh’s to-do list. [And] bringing back Harris could help accomplish that.”

Najee Harris Reunion Is Unlikely Considering He Badmouthed Steelers Upon Leaving

Forget for a moment that the Chargers trading Harris months after signing him is unlikely. And forget that the Steelers spent a third-round pick on Johnson, his long-term replacement.

Even if all that did not matter in Pittsburgh’s eyes, a Harris reunion is still probably not happening.

Shortly after joining the Chargers, Harris badmouthed the Steelers’ facilities and the lack of offensive identity after Ben Roethlisberger. So, the long-time playmaker didn’t exactly leave Pittsburgh gracefully.

Who knows if the seemingly bitter behavior stemmed from the Steelers not offering what he felt he was worth. Or if Harris simply took leaving town as an opportunity to get some things off his chest.

Either way, Pittsburgh has certainly moved on from Harris, bringing in Johnson and Gainwell. Don’t expect this unfounded Steelers trade idea to come to fruition.