Giants sign Najee Harris in intriguing addition to crowded running back room
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The Giants added a four-time 1,000-yard rusher — not a fourth-stringer — to their running back corps.
Tuesday’s signing of Najee Harris will impact the division of labor across a position group that already had fan favorite and projected starter Cam Skattebo, two-time 1,000-yard-from-scrimmage dual-threat back Tyrone Tracy Jr., and former free agent splash Devin Singletary (who took a pay cut to stick around this season) jockeying for touches.
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“I think this is a good opportunity here,” Harris said after practicing for the first time since his torn Achilles in Week 3 with the Chargers last September. “I think the style of play that they’re heading towards is the style of play that aligns with me. I’m just willing to put my foot in there and help out any way I can.”
But Harris isn’t here to replace fourth-stringer Dante Miller, who recently suffered a season-ending groin injury. And he isn’t here because Tracy missed a pass block that led to Jaxson Dart getting walloped in the preseason opener.
The Giants pursued high-end running backs in free agency — Kenneth Walker III’s three-year, $43.5 million contract with the Chiefs was too pricey — and in the draft, where Jeremiyah Love (No. 3 to the Cardinals) was off the board before their pick (No. 5).
Enter Harris, who was the best free-agent running back available and yet still had to wait two months after gaining medical clearance to sign a one-year, prove-it contract. He signed a below-market one-year, $5.7 million deal with the Chargers in 2025 after 1,097 career carries with Pittsburgh. The Giants booked a workout with Harris before facing the Vikings last week.
“I most definitely go into every year with a chip on my shoulder, but more so this year,” Harris said. “I have a lot to prove. I’m coming back from a torn Achilles. Everything I did in the past is in the past. Everything I do now is really what matters. I know there’s going to be a lot of questions on how I’ll come back from it, and I’m ready to answer all those.”
Giants head coach John Harbaugh didn’t need any recommendations on Harris, though he received them from his brother (Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh) and Giants run-game coordinator (former Chargers offensive coordinator) Greg Roman — even though Harris had a fireworks incident that caused him to start last training camp on the non-football injury list (eye).
“Anybody that’s watched him play knows what type of a back he is — a downhill runner, physical runner,” Harbaugh said. “I have a good feel for who he is as a player. Everybody that’s been around him, my brother, G-Ro, [former Steelers head coach] Mike Tomlin, love him as a teammate. Excited for the possibilities.”
Harbaugh’s Ravens had success both ways, with workhorses Ray Rice and Derrick Henry bookending years when Gus Edwards, Alex Collins and Justin Forsett led committee backfields. The Ravens ranked No. 2 in rushing in 2018 (2,441 yards) without a 720-yard rusher.
If anyone in an overcrowded room needs help checking their ego, report to Harbaugh’s office.
“I think they understand,” Harbaugh said. “I haven’t talked to them about it. If there’s any questions, we’ll talk to them, but everybody understands. I mean, football’s competitive, the NFL’s competitive, and we’re building the strongest team we can. And he’s a really good football player, so that’s it.”
Harbaugh estimated that it will take Harris “two to three weeks” — or, “just in time” for Week 1 — to get into football shape. Harris is confident he will beat that timetable.
“Can I go out there and run some plays? Of course I can,” Harris said. “But am I where Najee wants to be at? No, probably not. How long is it going to take? I don’t know. But I mean, I’m going to be good. It’s not going to take a long time. I take that seriously. … Doing team work, that’s kind of just going to put the cherry on top of it. But I know I’m confident in all that stuff.”
What happens then? There is only one ball to go around.
“I feel like they’ve all got their own special talent, and they’re all good players,” Harris said of the rest of the room. “They’re all guys who can be No. 1s, and I feel like we all could just elevate each other.”
Harbaugh didn’t convince Harris to sign after his workout with the Giants on Monday by buttering him up. There was an honest AFC North rivals scouting report.
“Nobody in the league really would know [me] better than Harbaugh,” Harris said. “[Those were] probably the most physical games that I played against in the NFL. He knows all the stuff that I need to work on and all the stuff that I’m good at. To hear that and to have him coach me will be really good for me.”