James Harrison Reflects on Departure from Steelers and Signing with Patriots

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison has opened up about his tumultuous final season with the team in 2017 and the decision that led him to sign with the New England Patriots. Harrison, who is regarded as one of the franchise’s all-time greats, expressed his frustrations with the Steelers’ coaching staff and their handling of his playing time.

Late in the 2017 season, Harrison found himself sharing the field with younger outside linebackers Bud Dupree and T.J. Watt after the Steelers heavily invested in those positions through consecutive draft picks. Despite his storied career, Harrison was relegated to an insurance role, offering backup behind the emerging stars.

During a recent appearance on a podcast with former NFL players Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor, and Channing Crowder, Harrison recounted the challenges he faced, including the heated dialogue he had with head coach Mike Tomlin about his value on the team. Harrison claimed his request was simple: honesty about his role.

“I’m going back and forth, just back and forth, and I’m like, ‘You know what? I wanna play,’” Harrison said. “You can say T.J. and Bud were better than me, but I didn’t practice in training camp. So, do I believe that both of them were better than me? No.”

As the season progressed, Harrison remained frustrated with his limited opportunities. He debated between returning to the Steelers or signing with the Patriots, ultimately making the decision to join New England when it became clear he would not play regularly in Pittsburgh.

“I’m signing. I don’t even need to wait for them to come back because me going back there, I’m gonna be in the same position, mad that I’m just sitting there,” Harrison explained. “When I told you Week One at Cleveland, ‘Hey, I see what y’all are doing. Y’all wanna play your younger players.’ Just release me so I could go play out this year somewhere else.”

Harrison’s first game with the Patriots proved to be impactful, as he recorded two sacks. However, reports of him being disengaged during meetings surfaced, and he has since downplayed that behavior, asserting that his struggles stemmed from not receiving clear communication regarding his position on the Steelers.

Reflecting on the situation, Harrison expressed disappointment in how the Steelers managed his transition. “Your plan is just to hold me here just in case something happens, that you got the backup. But then when the numbers hit and you’re like, ‘Oh, we’re good,’ then you ended up releasing me anyway,” he said.

Harrison emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability within the team structure, stating that while he understands the business aspects of football, he sought authentic dialogue from the coaching staff. “I need honesty, dude. I don’t care if it’s tough questions; I’ve been asking them, but I wasn’t getting the tough answers,” he noted.

Despite the lack of a championship with the Patriots, Harrison’s legacy with the Steelers remains intact as a vital contributor to the team’s success during his tenure.