Heading into the 2025 season, Najee Harris had been a model of consistency, never missing a game and posting four straight 1,000+ rushing yard seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. But this year brought unexpected challenges: not only did Harris part ways with the Steelers in the offseason, but he also suffered a season-ending injury.
Let’s take a closer look at where he landed and the details surrounding his injury.
Why Did Najee Harris Leave The Steelers?
Najee Harris was selected 24th overall by the Steelers in the 2021 NFL Draft and spent four seasons in Pittsburgh. While his production stayed consistent, the Steelers declined to pick up his fifth-year option last offseason.
After recording a fourth straight 1,000-yard season, Harris was set to earn more than the fifth-year option would have paid, making it an easy decision for Pittsburgh to let him walk. With Jaylen Warren already on the roster and third-round pick Kaleb Johnson ready to step in, the Steelers chose to replace Harris’ production with more cost-effective options.
Harris, meanwhile, entered free agency and quickly signed a one-year, $5.25 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers, drawn in part by the chance to play under head coach Jim Harbaugh.
However, he missed all of training camp after suffering eye damage in a July 4 fireworks accident. Just as he was starting to find his footing with the Chargers in Week 3, after limited action in Weeks 1 and 2, he suffered another setback.
The Chargers had been gradually increasing Harris’ workload, and Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Denver Broncos was his most productive outing with six carries for 28 yards. But his game and season ended in heartbreak when he exited in the second quarter with an injury.
He went down on a second-down play with 5:12 left in the second quarter. As he pushed off his left leg, he suddenly collapsed to the turf with what appeared to be a non-contact injury. While the team initially announced the injury was an ankle issue, the tests confirmed on Monday that he had tests confirmed on Monday that he had suffered a torn Achilles tendon that would keep him out for the entire season.
The financial ramifications of Harris’ injury are significant as well, with Spotrac noting: “His season-ending Achilles injury means he’ll miss out on the $4M of attainable rushing incentives, sending him back to the open market in reset mode next March.”
Harris’ injury derails his season and leaves the Chargers scrambling for production in the backfield. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on Omarion Hampton to step up, while Harris faces a long road to recovery and a critical offseason to rebuild his value in the league.
