Pittsburgh Steelers: Their decision last month left people shocked. The team’s choice to decline Najee Harris’ fifth-year option despite him taking up a lot of running back receiving responsibility didn’t sit well with many. Presently, it seems that the NFL teams are not heavily invested in retaining running backs, beyond the short-term deals or rookie contracts. And as Harris’ future is shrouded in doubt, the Steelers’ General Manager opened up about the RB’s contract status. Russell Wilson finds this quite reassuring.

The NFL star QB, Wilson, took to his IG post to reshare the post by Steelers Depot, which quoted Omar Khan’s statement regarding Harris: “I’d love to say Najee was here and had a long career in Pittsburgh.” It doesn’t rule out Harris’ prospects for a long-term deal with the Steelers. The Super Bowl Champion was particularly pleased with this, evidently displaying his happiness by dropping three crown emojis on his Instagram story for Harris, tagging @najee_harris on his story.

Of course, Wilson wasn’t too happy about the fact that Harris’s overall situation. After all, Harris, in combination with Jaylen Warren, was like having a massive backfield duo. Add Pickens as a dynamic receiver to the equation and with TE Pat Freiermuth exuding control over the middle of the field, Russell Wilson pretty much had enough to depend on a run-heavy game plan. Now that seems to have fallen apart. But what did Khan say?

In the latest interviews, Khan also admitted, “It was a business decision that we had to make by May 2.” He further validated Harris’ prospects by remarking, “But Najee’s awesome to have around here. Love Najee as a player and a person. Just because we didn’t pick it up doesn’t exclude us from doing something with Najee long-term.”

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This has been a redemptive statement for Harris’ fans, who were disheartened till now. As Omar Khan is hopeful regarding Harris, it may be likely that Harris will return beyond 2024. Nothing can be said as of now. However, it does look like he didn’t earn the confidence to be a quick pick. This explains the team’s hesitance. Now, let us not forget that Harris had three straight 1,000-yard seasons and also took up a lot of burden for the team’s struggling offense.

On the other side, he ran just 3.9 yards per carry for his career. Thus, while he is a reliable player, he may not be that efficient. Additionally, he may have been threatened by Jaylen Warren’s presence as a backup.

Moreover, Arthur Smith, who serves as the new offensive coordinator, has a preference for a run-heavy offense, which is likely to benefit Harris. But everything depends on how the deals will roll out for Harris in due course of time. If no deal is reached this summer, Harris will have to play for a new contract this coming season.

What does the future hold for Najee Harris?

Harris has not yet publicly addressed the current scenario regarding the decline of his fifth-year option. This decision means Najee Harris will be a pending free agent after the season. However, he will shed light on all of this during the Steelers’ training camp. As the Alabama football star is entering the final year of his rookie deal, he is not practicing currently despite participating in the voluntary OTAs. And, GM Omar Khan has refrained from elaborating what exactly the business decision refers to.

The fifth-year option would have otherwise guaranteed Harris $6.79 million for 2025. The reason behind this decision is still unclear, whether it was regarding the concern for not allocating a high amount for Harris’ position, or it could be other financial considerations.

While Khan personally disclosed the decision to Harris, he has not yet revealed Harris’ reaction, stating that he wants the public to respect the privacy of the entire matter.

Despite his phenomenal yardage totals, the average of more than four yards per carry has only occurred once (2023). On the other hand, Jaylen Warren, a versatile back, has been signed as a restricted free agent, which has perhaps made the situation more complex. Signing a long-term deal after being declined in the same season is a rare occurrence, but still, Harris’ fans have their hopes high. As Harris is set up to play for a new deal this fall, all eyes are on him.