Najee Harris
About the speaker
Najee Harris is a Pro Bowl running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Growing up, Harris, his mother, and his five siblings moved around a lot. Many times, the family would stay in cars, hotels, and in shelters until they found permanent housing in... More
Najee Harris is a Pro Bowl running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Growing up, Harris, his mother, and his five siblings moved around a lot. Many times, the family would stay in cars, hotels, and in shelters until they found permanent housing in Antioch, California. Harris found sanctuary at the high school football stadium just two blocks from his house. From the time he was a freshman, Harris had a tremendous work ethic, coming in on weekends and staying late daily.
Harris was a top high school prospect who chose to attend the University of Alabama. He shined with the Crimson Tide, winning two national championships and earning the Doak Walker Award in his senior year as the best running back in college football. In 2019, he became the starting running back and largely dominated the backfield production for the Crimson Tide. Harris finished his college career as Alabama’s all-time rushing leader.
The Steelers recognized Najee’s immense potential and selected him 24th overall in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He continued to excel in Pittsburgh, rushing for over 1,000 yards with seven touchdowns. He finished as the NFL’s fourth-leading rusher his rookie season. That success earned him selections to the Pro Bowl and All-Rookie Teams. Harris is primed to solidify himself among the NFL’s elite running backs in the coming years.
Najee is just as hardworking off the field. In 2021, Harris founded the Da’Bigger Picture Foundation, which helps families impacted by homelessness and hunger. The hope is to provide tools and assistance to families facing challenging times. In 2022, Harris hosted his first dinner for the foundation to raise money, and in July 2023, he hosted his first youth football camp to give back to the kids of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Additionally, Najee created connections with fans in Mexico when he spent the 2022 draft weekend in Mexico City, taking part in events with fans and Steelers’ influencers. During his time in Mexico, Harris hosted a youth skills camp at a local school with 30-plus young football players.
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