This is the fifth in a series reviewing the Steelers’ 2024 lineup by position. Today: Running Backs
Running Backs: Najee Harris, Jaylen Warren, Cordarrelle Patterson, Aaron Shampklin
With Arthur Smith’s hiring as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator last year, few positions on the roster were going to benefit more than the team’s running backs.
That group was assured of being a big part of every game plan. That proved to be the case, as only the Eagles and Ravens ran the ball a higher percentage than the 52.1 the Steelers posted in 2024.
Najee Harris led the way with 263 carries for 1,043 yards and six touchdowns. He also caught 36 passes for 283 yards.
It was Harris’ fourth-consecutive 1,000-yard season to open his career, making him just 14 players in league history to do so.
The former first-round draft pick has proven to be a durable workhorse, posting 299 touches in 2024, the fourth-straight season he has had at least 284 touches and also appeared in all 17 games.
The Steelers ran the ball a lot – 533 times total – but averaged just 4.1 yards per carry, something that has to improve moving forward. That was good for just 20th in the NFL in terms of yards per carry.
“We like to ride the wave that our running game provides and produce chunks in the play-passing game off of it and some of these things and control games and minimize the potential of negativity in terms of turning the ball over,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “At different times we had really good traction and success in that area. It didn’t feel that way in the end, but we need to go back and comb through it in totality and understand why.
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