Najee Harris hits rushing milestone for third year in a row
Pittsburgh running back Najee Harris became the 18th player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons during the Steelers’ 17-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday.
Harris ran for 112 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries in Pittsburgh’s regular-season finale to complete the 2023 campaign with 1,035 yards and eight touchdowns on 255 rushing attempts.
The former Alabama All-American became first NFL player to accomplish the feat since Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris in 2012 through 2014. Harris is the first Pittsburgh player to do it.
Harris is the second player with Alabama football roots with three 1,000-yard seasons to start his NFL career. Former Auburn running back William Andrews did so in 1979, 1980 and 1981 for the Atlanta Falcons.
The other players with 1,000-yard rushing performances in each of their first three NFL seasons include:
· John Brockington, Green Bay Packers, 1971-1973
· Tony Dorsett, Dallas Cowboys, 1977-1979
· Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers, 1978-1980
· Ottis Anderson, St. Louis Cardinals, 1979-1981
· Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams, 1983-1985
· Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions, 1989-1991
· Curtis Martin, New England Patriots, 1995-1997
· Terrell Davis, Denver Broncos, 1995-1997
· Eddie George, Houston/Tennessee Oilers, 1996-1998
· Corey Dillon, Cincinnati Bengals, 1997-1999
· Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Ravens, 2000, 2002-2003
· LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers, 2001-2003
· Clinton Portis, Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, 2002-2004
· Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings, 2007-2009
· Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans, 2008-2010
By improving to 10-7, Pittsburgh stayed in contention for a wild-card spot in the AFC playoffs. For the Steelers to get in, they need the Buffalo Bills or the Jacksonville Jaguars to lose on Sunday. The Bills visit the Miami Dolphins, and the Jaguars visit the Tennessee Titans.
Harris became the second former Crimson Tide standout to reach 1,000 rushing yards in the NFL this season, following Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, who recorded his fifth 1,000-yard season in 2023.
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Harris recorded the 46th NFL 1,000-yard rushing season by a player from an Alabama high school or college. Sixteen players with Alabama football roots have reached the milestone.
The NFL 1,000-yard rushers with Alabama football roots include (with yearly totals presented as rushing attempts-rushing yards-rushing touchdowns):
William Andrews, Auburn
Atlanta Falcons
1979: 239-1,023-3
1980: 265-1,308-4
1981: 289-1,301-10
1983: 331-1,567-7
—-
Joe Cribbs, Sulligent High School, Auburn
Buffalo Bills
1980: 306-1,185-11
1981: 257-1,097-3
1983: 263-1,131-3
—-
James Brooks, Auburn
Cincinnati Bengals
1986: 205-1,087-5
1989: 221-1,239-7
1990: 195-1,004-5
—-
Bobby Humphrey, Glenn High School, Alabama
Denver Broncos
1989: 294-1,151-7
1990: 288-1,202-7
—-
Antowain Smith, Stanhope Elmore High School
Buffalo Bills
1998: 300-1,124-8
New England Patriots
2001: 287-1,157-12
—-
Stephen Davis, Auburn
Washington Redskins
1999: 290-1,405-17
2000: 332-1,318-11
2001: 356-1,432-5
Carolina Panthers
2003: 318-1,444-8
—-
Shaun Alexander, Alabama
Seattle Seahawks
2001: 309-1,318-14
2002: 295-1,175-16
2003: 326-1,435-14
2004: 353-1,696-16
2005: 370-1,880-27
—-
Rudi Johnson, Auburn
Cincinnati Bengals
2004: 361-1,454-12
2005: 337-1,458-12
2006: 341-1,309-12
—-
Carnell “Cadillac” Williams, Etowah High School, Auburn
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2005: 290-1,178-6
—-
Ronnie Brown, Auburn
Miami Dolphins
2006: 241-1,008-5
—-
Eddie Lacy, Alabama
Green Bay Packers
2013: 284-1,178-11
2014: 246-1,139-9
—-
Mark Ingram, Alabama
New Orleans Saints
2016: 205-1,043-6
2017: 230-1,124-12
Baltimore Ravens
2019: 202-1,018-10
—-
Jordan Howard, Gardendale High School, UAB
Chicago Bears
2016: 252-1,313-6
2017: 276-1,122-7
—-
Derrick Henry, Alabama
Tennessee Titans
2018: 215-1,059-12
2019: 303-1,540-16
2020: 378-2,027-17
2022: 349-1,538-13
2023: 261-1,014-11 (through Week 17)
—-
Josh Jacobs, Alabama
Oakland Raiders
2019: 242-1,150-7
2020: 273-1,065-12
2022: 340-1,653-12
—-
Najee Harris, Alabama
Pittsburgh Steelers
2021: 307-1,200-7
2022: 272-1,034-7
2023: 255-1,035-8
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.