EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Najee Harris and John Harbaugh were on opposite sides of the Pittsburgh Steelers-Baltimore Ravens rivalry for four seasons, with Harris running the ball for Pittsburgh and Harbaugh coaching Baltimore.
Now, they find themselves on the same team after the Giants signed the 6-foot-1, 242-pound 28-year-old running back on Tuesday.
After Harris, coming back from a 2025 torn Achilles tendon, worked out for the Giants on Monday, Harbaugh had said “I felt like the hair on the back of
my neck stood up when I saw him.”
On Tuesday, after Harris had gone through his first practice with the Giants, Harbaugh said he was “excited for the possibilities” now that the four-time 1,000-yard rusher was a Giant.
“He’s an experienced back,” Harbaugh said. “Anybody that’s watched him play knows what type of a back he is. He’s a downhill runner, physical runner. I’ve played against him a lot, have a good feel for who he is as a player.
“Everybody that’s been around him, my brother [Jim Harbaugh], G-Ro [Giants senior offensive assstant Greg Roman], Mike, Tomlin, love him as a teammate. So, excited for the possibilities.”
Harris had 1,000-yard rushing seasons in all four of his seasons after being a first-round pick by the Steelers. He played just three games for Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers last season before being injured.
Why did he choose the Giants?
“I want opportunity. I think this is a good opportunity here,” Harris said. “I think the style of play that they’re heading towards is the style of play that aligns with me. Harbaugh coming from the AFC North, me playing against him a lot of times. I know the type of style of football he wants.
“And, I think that we align each other with each other with what type of football we want to play. So I think that just coming here is a good opportunity. And I’m just willing to just put my foot in there and help out any time, any way I can.”
Harbaugh had said on Monday that Harris was “not back 100%. He’s not in football shape yet.”
Harris said Tuesday it was “not going to take a long time” for him to get there.
“Am I fully in like in football shape? No, I just got on pads today,” Harris said. “It’s the difference between getting in shape and in football shape because it’s hard to replicate pads in an offseason other than just putting it on and going out there and work.
“So, I mean, can I go out there and run some plays? Of course I can. am I where I want to be like Najee want to be? No, probably not … But, I’ll be good. It’s not going to take a long time.”
Harbaugh said he figured it would “take a couple weeks” for Harris to ramp up, and that he could be ready “just in time probably” for the season to start.
Harris joins a backfield that currently includes Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy, and Devin Singletary. Harris has the best resume of anyone in the room, but knows he has to prove himself with the Giants.
“I have a lot to prove,” Harris said. “Somebody who’s coming back from a torn Achilles. Really, everything that I did in the past is in the past.
“And really everything I do now is really what matters. I know it’s going to be a lot of questions of how I’ll come back looking. And I’m ready to answer all those.”
Harbaugh and the Giants can’t want to see what that looks like.
