Getty Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris blasted his teammates and the media in a rant on October 4.
There’s been a sect of Pittsburgh Steelers fans who have been displeased with Mike Tomlin’s job performance for quite some time. Even Tomlin’s most steadfast defenders have been quiet since the embarrassing 30-6 loss to the Houston Texans in Week 4.
However, don’t count running back Najee Harris among the quiet Tomlin supporters. He loudly defended Pittsburgh’s entire coaching staff while putting his teammates on notice when speaking to reporters on October 4.
During his rant, he was also highly critical of the media.
“It has nothing to do with coaches. It’s players,” Harris said, according to The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly, in response to the media narrative blaming coaches for Pittsburgh’s slow offensive start. “We have to play better.
“We just can’t keep looking at the coaches or whatever you guys keep putting out there. It’s just stupid what you all are doing. Players play, coaches coach.”
Najee Harris not happy with media blaming coaches
“It has nothing to do with coaches. It’s players. We have to play better. We just can’t keep looking at the coaches or whatever you guys keep putting out there. It’s just stupid what you all are doing. Players play, coaches coach
Harris continued, stressing that each player must look at themselves in order for the team to improve.
“We can’t just keep pointing fingers. We’ve got to point at ourselves. It’s the man in the mirror, really.”
Najee Harris on criticism of coaches: “We have to play better. We can’t just keep looking at the coaches as an outlet or whatever you’re putting out there … it’s stupid. … We can’t just keep pointing fingers. We’ve got to point at ourselves. It’s the man in the mirror, really.”
Steelers Coaching Staff Receiving Major Criticism
Pittsburgh sits at 2-2 entering the Week 5 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. But after allowing 30 points and failing to score double digits for the second time in four games this season, Steelers fans and media alike have been highly critical of the organization this week.
That scorn is mostly focused on offensive coordinator Matt Canada and the offense. The Steelers are ranked 25th in points scored, and that’s including two defensive touchdowns from the Week 2 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
The Steelers are 29th in yards, 29th in rushing yards and 25th in passing yards.
It’s also not like Canada has just arrived and needs time to install his system. This is his third season as Pittsburgh’s offensive coordinator. During his first two seasons, the Steelers didn’t finish better than 21st in total offense or points scored.
Since the start of the 2022 season, the Steelers have scored more than 24 points just three times in 21 games. One of those times was the aforementioned 26-22 victory against the Browns this season.
Pittsburgh’s defense accounted for 14 of those 26 points.
Furthermore, since the beginning of 2022 season, the Steelers have not posted more than 379 yards in any game. This year, they have been held under 260 yards in three of their four contests.
Steelers Players Can Share the Blame for Slow Offensive Start
Steelers fans on Twitter pushed back against Harris’ rant. Most notably, one Twitter user was surprised Harris wasn’t more upset about not getting the ball on a fourth-and-1 play late in the third quarter during Week 4.
Instead of a Harris run, Canada called a shotgun pass on fourth-and-1 at the Texans 33-yard line with the team trailing by 10. The play, which ended in a sack, has been a major source of anger for fans this week.
But Harris is right — the players can share the blame.
Quarterback Kenny Pickett didn’t see an open receiver in the end zone on the drive prior to the turnover on downs. That drive ended with a field goal.
Like on that play, Pickett has underwhelmed evaluators with much of his performance early this season.
Pittsburgh’s offensive line has arguably been even worse. Pro Football Focus has the Steelers ranked 27th in run blocking and last in pass blocking.
According to PFF, the Steelers aren’t just last but, by far, the worst team in pass protection early this season. Pittsburgh has earned a 31.8 pass blocking grade out of 100 through the first four weeks.
The team with the next worst grade, the New York Giants, have a grade of 38.8.
Even Harris hasn’t been great. He’s been better the past two weeks, but he doesn’t have a 100-yard rushing performance and has failed to reach even 50 yards on the ground twice. Harris also hasn’t scored yet this season.
Most Steelers fans, though, probably won’t agree with Harris’ take that the team’s players are more to blame for the 2-2 start. But if nothing else, the running back’s rant is a clear indication that he still fully supports his coaching staff.
Maybe the rant will also galvanize some of his teammates.