Najee Harris rushed for over 1,000 yard seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers for four consecutive seasons. However, the Steelers still decided to part ways with him this free agency, and the running back will now play for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025. Let’s analyze his new contract, salary, and net worth.
Najee Harris’ Contract and Salary
Harris signed a one-year deal worth $5.25 million with the Chargers, with all of the amount guaranteed. The deal includes $3.75 million as a signing bonus and $1.5 million as base salary.
The annual salary of $5.25 million is double what Harris earned in 2024 ($2.4m). He signed a rookie contract worth $13 million when he was picked 24th overall by the Steelers in the 2021 NFL Draft. It was a fully guaranteed deal with a $6.9 million signing bonus. Included in his contract, as well as all first-rounders, was a fifth-year option worth a projected $6,659,000 if picked up, according to OverTheCap.
Harris, a two-time national champion at the Alabama Crimson Tide, produced a stellar rookie season. He rushed for 1200 yards and seven touchdowns, while making 74 receptions for 467 yards and three touchdowns.
While Harris has tallied over 1,000 rushing yards every year, he hasn’t been the most efficient. The 27-year-old’s best yards-per-carry average in a single season was 2023 at 4.1, higher than his career average of 3.9 YPC for his career.
Still, Harris is younger and has shown pass-catching capabilities. Over his four-year career, he’s scored 28 rushing touchdowns and six in the passing game. The running back has yet to miss a game in his NFL career, and he’s proven a highly capable pass catcher while generating a 180-1,149-6 receiving line in his first four seasons. However, after scoring three receiving touchdowns apiece in each of his first two NFL campaigns, he hasn’t found the end zone as a receiver since.
He won’t be the unquestioned starter now in Los Angeles, with the Chargers drafting Omarion Hampton in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but hopefully, the competition will revive his career.
Harris’ Net Worth and Career Earnings
Harris is estimated to have a net worth of around $7 million, given that he has already amassed $13 million from his four years in the NFL. He also earns from the endorsement deals with the running back, having partnered with Nike, T-Mobile, and a local Pittsburgh restaurant.
The 27-year-old was born on March 9, 1998, in Martinez, California. He played high school football at Antioch High School, where he rushed for 7,948 yards and 94 touchdowns on 838 carries. His high school success left him rated as the second overall recruit in the 2017 class, according to 247Sports Composite.
With such a high ranking, he was heavily recruited by all major programs but Alabama came out on top. Harris ended up spending four seasons with the Crimson Tide, where he compiled 3,843 yards and 46 touchdowns on 638 carries. He posted a career-high 1,466 yards as a senior, helping his draft stock to become the first running back selected in 2022.
