Mike Tomlin offered some paternal wisdom to Chargers RB Najee Harris: “I’d tell you not to come back here”

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected running back Najee Harris in the first round, 24th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft. According to Spotrac, he signed a four-year, $13 million rookie contract with Pittsburgh. In May 2024, the Steelers declined a $6.79 million option for the 2025 season.

In March 2025, Harris signed a one-year, $5.25 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. What happened in free agency is unclear, but the running back recently spoke about it. His comments involved Pittsburgh’s former head coach, Mike Tomlin.

Najee Harris discloses minute details about Mike Tomlin on podcast

On Get Got Pod with Marshawn Lynch and Mike Robinson, Harris discussed Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, the team’s longest-tenured coach.

“He’s a great coach, he’s a player’s coach,” Harris shared. “He’ll be in the locker room, partying, chilling, going crazy, and listening to music. His favorite is Take Over Your Trap [by 2 Chainz & Skooly]; he’ll play it all the time.”

“He’s a people’s person. He says, ‘You gotta find a routine that’s good with you, to keep your body right, to always be available.’”

After sharing these little locker room secrets about Tomlin, Harris talked about the moment he learned about the trade, his release, and that he would be playing for another team.

“I called Mike Tomlin. Man, if I’m not coming back, tell me, if I am, tell me. I don’t really want to do all the antics, man.” Harris said. “I was in Vegas, in the RV, chilling and going to visit national park.

I called him [Mike Tomlin]. We were chopping up for 10 or 20 minutes about random stuff. That’s how our relationship was. It’s like us talking right now.

We wasn’t even talking about it [trade]. Then we got all right, we gotta talk business. I said, ‘Hey, man, what’s up though?’

He said, ‘Naj, I always talk to you not as a player, but as if you are my son.’ He had told me that before in another situation.

He said, ‘But if you were my son, I would tell you not to come back here.’ So, I was like, ‘All right, cool.’”

Tomlin reportedly did not want Harris to extend his contract with Pittsburgh.


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