Former Pittsburgh Steelers player James Harrison expressed excitement about the current team, comparing it to the squad when Ben Roethlisberger was drafted. He highlighted similarities in their run-heavy approach on his Deebo and Joe podcast. Harrison pointed to recent additions like Michael Pittman Jr. as key hints.
James Harrison, a former standout with the Pittsburgh Steelers, shared optimistic views on the team's current buildup during Monday's episode of the Deebo and Joe podcast. He drew parallels to the 2004 Steelers, the year Roethlisberger was drafted as a rookie quarterback. 'This reminds me of back when Ben [Roethlisberger] first came in,' Harrison said. 'We had a strong running game with [Jerome Bettis], Willie Parker. We’d run, run, run. They say, ‘Oh shit, they’re running on us.’ Eight, nine in the box, boom, and then we bomb on their ass.' He identified the draft pick of Michael Pittman Jr. as a pivotal sign, noting the receiver's physicality and blocking ability. 'That’s a guy that can actually catch the ball very [well]… But the hint was he likes to get physical. The boy likes to block. He likes the dirty part of his job… I’m a little excited about what we can look like.' Harrison suggested that if Will Howard emerges as the starter, the setup would suit a young quarterback much like it did for Roethlisberger early on. The Steelers, who have not won a playoff game in nearly 10 years, now have Mike McCarthy as head coach. Recent moves include signing running back Rico Dowdle, who posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, alongside Jaylen Warren. Last year, Kenneth Gainwell led the team in receptions, though Dowdle offers a more traditional rushing profile. In Roethlisberger's rookie season, the Steelers ran the ball 618 times versus 358 passes. By contrast, the 2025 team had 407 rushes and 550 passes under Aaron Rodgers and Arthur Smith's scheme. While quarterback remains a question—with Rodgers potentially returning—the team eyes the draft for solutions.
