Former Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison is one of the most imposing players in NFL history. The 2008 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year struck fear into plenty of opponents, including Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Travis Kelce Recalls On-Field Run-In With Former Steelers OLB James Harrison
During his second NFL season, Kelce was introduced to Harrison during a Week 16 road loss. The story he told Taylor Lewan and Will Compton on July 1 on “Bussin’ With The Boys” sends shivers up the spine.
“He had the visor on,” Kelce said. “It was like the back side of a run, Jamaal Charles is fast as (expletive). He’s already out the gate, and I’m just holding him, I’m like, ‘Yeah, you can’t off the block.’ And he just stares at me. Doesn’t say anything.”
Kelce said he leaned over to see if Harrison’s gaze would follow.
“I’m just like, ‘What?’” Kelce said. “Like, three plays later, I’m on the line of scrimmage looking at the ball, he’s the outside backer kind of (messing) around with No. 2, three-by-one set, and he just times it up and smokes me. Times up the snap and everything. … Just absolutely blindsided. I’m getting up with my (expletive) head still trying to figure out what the (expletive) just happened.
“I absolutely (ruined) the entire play.”
Kelce’s quarterback, Alex Smith, evacuated the pocket, and the drive ended soon thereafter.
“I’m just kind of looking around, I look over at him and he’s just staring at me with the (expletive) visor on again, not saying a thing,” Kelce said. “I’m like, ‘This guy, he’s (expletive) killed somebody, for sure.”
Lewan also shared a story about butting heads with Harrison in his rookie year.
“Before the game started, all the offensive linemen were like, ‘Hey, we know you like to chatter a little bit. Don’t talk to this guy. Don’t say a word to him. Just leave him alone, hopefully he, like, stays asleep during the game,’” Lewan said. “But it’s Monday Night Football. I’m hyped up, I’m juiced up, I’m ready to make a name for myself.
“Three plays into the game, something happens, I’m like, ‘I’m here all day!’ Whatever dumbass comment I make. ‘I’m here all (expletive) day!’ And he doesn’t say a word to me.”
Soon after, Lewan reached out to block Harrison.
“He drops down at the ground and just grabs my ankle and starts gator-rolling,” Lewan said. “You look at him and you’re like, ‘He’s a beefcake.’ There’s no doubt about it. He’s got a lot of muscles on him. But he’s so short, you’re like, ‘I’ll be able to handle this.’ It’s very hard to handle that.”
The two run-ins confirmed something almost every fan and player knew: Harrison was a force to be reckoned with on every single snap.