Giants Rb Najee Harris Excited To Play For Former Division Rival, John Harbaugh: 'we Align With Each Other'

For the first four years of his NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2021-2024, running back Najee Harris got to know head coach John Harbaugh well from a distance, facing the Baltimore Ravens twice a season.

Now in 2026, the former division rivals find themselves both in New York for their first season with the Giants after the RB signed a one-year deal on Tuesday. 

That AFC North connection is something Harris highlighted as one of the main reasons he chose to sign with Big Blue.

"Exactly, I want opportunity," Harris said. "I think this is a good opportunity here. I think the style of play that they're heading towards is a style of play that aligns with me. Harbaugh coming from the AFC North, me playing against him a lot of times, I know the type of style of football he wants. I think that we align with each other with the type of football we want to play. Coming here is a good opportunity. Just willing to put my foot in there and help anyway I can."

The 28-year-old added that Harbaugh and former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin have a lot in common with their playing styles, and he's excited to learn from someone that knows his game very well.

"Me talking to coach Harbaugh, there's a lot of similarities with him and Mike T., just the style of play," Harris said. "Man, just to hear what somebody will critique or say about you that's lined up and played against you is really good to hear. What are the things that maybe he said that when I was playing against him on the Steelers and he was with the Ravens, some stuff I maybe didn't do good, some stuff I did good at, some stuff I need to work on, some stuff that's my strong area.

"To hear that from somebody I played against for four years, twice a year, it'll be really good. It kind of benefits me. That's a rival right there, nobody in the league would really know you better than Harbaugh, especially against the Ravens. Those were the most physical games that I played against in the NFL... Harbaugh knew me ever since I got in the league, literally. He knows all the stuff I need to work on and all the stuff I'm good at. To hear that and to have him coach me will be really good for me."

Harris played just three games last year with the Los Angeles Chargers before suffering a torn Achilles. He told reporters after his first practice that he's made a lot of progress in his recovery and is "ready to get back" on the field.

"It's been a process, but learned a lot about myself," Harris said. "Just trying to get back at the strength that I can push off of it, went really well. Had a great offseason with the PTs at Elite OrthoSport in LA. They got me back and got my confidence back, too, in all of it. I'm feeling really happy about it and proud of the work that I did."

Harris also knows that the 2026 season is a big one for his career following the injury, and is looking to "prove" he still belongs.

"I most definitely go into every year with a chip on my shoulder, but more so much this year, I have a lot to prove, somebody that's coming back from a torn Achilles," Harris said. "Really everything that I did in the past is in the past. Really everything I do now is really what matters. I know there's going to be a lot of questions of how I'll come back looking, and I'm ready to answer all of those."

The 2021 first-round pick said he worked on individual drills Tuesday and is "getting back to football work" after getting cleared about two months ago. Harbaugh had said Monday after Harris worked out for the team that he's "not in football shape yet," but Harris pointed out that it's something that won't take long to accomplish. The head coach added that he's "excited" to see how Harris can fit into the system, especially knowing the type of running back he is.

"He's an experienced back," Harbaugh said. "Anybody who's watched him play knows the type of back he is. He's a downhill runner, physical runner. I've played against him a lot, have a good feel for who he is as a player. Everybody that's been around him, by brother, Greg Roman, Mike Tomlin, they love him as a teammate. Excited for the possibilities."