kindee1688Pittsburgh Steelers sophomore running back Najee Harris is ready to do whatever it takes to help the Steelers win, even surpassing an NFL record 500 total carries.

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Pittsburgh Steelers second-year running back Najee Harris insists he’s ready to shoulder a bigger load, potentially 500 total carries, to help the Steelers win games, NFL Network reported Thursday. ( kindee1688 )

Harris had an NFL-high 381 carries and 74 receptions in the 2021 season, becoming the first rookie in NFL history to have at least 300 carries and 70 receptions. 

While the Steelers plan to reduce Harris’ workload on some plays, the running back has made it clear he’s ready to shoulder the increased workload to help the Steelers win.

“I’m ready to take 500,” Harris said. “Look, I don’t have a problem with it. It’s the media that has a problem with it. I tell them every game, ‘If this is how we’re going to win, I can take the load.’ I practice taking the load. It’s not something I haven’t done before. I’ve done it in college, high school, the NFL.”

‘For me to carry the ball that much, I’m like, ‘Are we going to win the game?’ There’s a long period of time where people say, if I carry the ball 25 times and we don’t lose, that’s fine. That’s who we are here. Let’s keep it that way. Listen, if I carry the ball 500 times, as long as we win, it doesn’t matter. 

No one in NFL history has ever carried the ball more than 500 times in a season, with James Wilder carrying the ball 492 times with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1984, followed by Larry Johnson carrying the ball 457 times in 2006 with the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Harris has rushed 307 times for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns. He also caught 74 times for 467 yards and three scores, earning a Pro Bowl spot as a rookie. He’s entering his second NFL season with options in the running back room of Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland, Trey Edmonds and two undrafted rookies in Mateo Durant and Jaylen Warren.