Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Malik Harrison has apparently found a new NFL home.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Thursday that Harrison is signing with the New York Giants practice squad.
Harrison Signed With the Steelers Last Offseason
The Steelers signed Harrison to a two-year, $10 million deal last offseason, but he didn’t make the final roster cuts, and Pittsburgh released him on Sunday.
Harrison started his career with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020, appearing in 76 games, starting 34, recording 215 combined tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks.
Many were excited when Harrison came to the Steelers last season, but he didn’t have much production. He appeared in 11 games, starting nine, recording 41 combined tackles and two tackles for loss.
Harrison did get hit by the injury bug last season, starting in Week 1 against the New York Jets. He suffered an MCL sprain that kept him out for six games.
If Harrison had a full season last year, maybe things would have been different for him this offseason with the Steelers. At the same time, the Steelers have a new coaching staff, and former head coach Mike Tomlin brought Harrison in. So, it’s possible that even if he had stayed healthy last season, he still would have been let go.
The Steelers will not face the Giants in the regular season; their NFC East opponent will be the Philadelphia Eagles, since both teams finished first in their division last season. Pittsburgh’s biggest rival, the Cleveland Browns, will have the privilege of playing the Giants this season.
A Reason Why the Steelers Parted With Harrison
When a team releases a player like Harrison, everyone wonders why. Harrison could have been good enough to be the third linebacker on the roster, but Steelers On SI’s Jacob Punturi believes that the main reason the Steelers let Harrison go was that he wasn’t great on special teams.
“The big reason why Harrison lost his job in Pittsburgh comes down to special teams,” Punturi wrote on Sunday. “Last year, Harrison never found a meaningful role with the special teams unit. Instead, Holcomb became a top contributor. While Harrison outsnapped Holcomb on defense, Holcomb edged him out in special teams snaps. Similarly, Bruener became an ace special teams player as a rookie. Entering his second season, it’s impressive how much his game has seemingly rounded out.
“The reality is that the Steelers need their third linebacker to be a top special teams player. Harrison has shown some strength in stopping the run, but he’s not a strong open field tackler and his quickness is a liability. Head coach Mike McCarthy repeatedly stressed the need for versatility over training camp, and sadly, Harrison did not provide the needed versatility to keep his roster spot.”
It is also a little alarming that the Steelers didn’t bring Harrison back and sign him to the practice squad. They may have tried, but maybe he wanted to go elsewhere, or Pittsburgh no longer thought Harrison was the right fit.
Former Steelers 7-Year Veteran Joins Giants Days After Release: Report