The Los Angeles Chargers today agreed to terms with running back Najee Harris and cornerback Donte Jackson.
Harris (first name pronounced NAH-jee) has been one of the most durable and bruising backs in football since being selected at No. 24 overall by Pittsburgh in the 2021 NFL Draft, starting all 71 career games for the Steelers, including the postseason. He is one of just eight players in NFL history to record at least 1,000 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns in each of the first four seasons of a career. Harris is also the only NFL player over the last four years to top 1,000 yards on the ground each season.
Over his four-year career, Harris has totaled 4,312 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns on 1,097 attempts (3.9 avg.), ranking No. 5 in the NFL in rushing yards since entering the league in 2021. Over that same span, his 5,461 career scrimmage yards also rank sixth among running backs. In the passing game, Harris has added 180 catches for 1,149 yards (6.4 avg.) and six touchdowns. Harris was selected to the Pro Bowl and named All-Rookie by the Professional Football Writers of America following the 2021 season, when he rushed for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns, while adding 74 receptions for 467 yards and three scores.
Harris was a two-time College Football Playoff National Champion in four seasons (2017-20) at the University of Alabama. He finished his Crimson Tide career as the program's all-time leader in rushing yards (3,843), scrimmage yards (4,624) and total touchdowns (57), while tying for the most rushing touchdowns in school history (46). As a senior, Harris won the Doak Walker Award, which annually recognizes college football's best running back, and earned unanimous All-America recognition after setting a single-season program record with 30 total touchdowns en route to his second CFP National Championship.
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms with running back Najee Harris.
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) warms up before an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) plays against the Tennessee Titans during an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) runs past Cleveland Browns safety John Johnson III (43) during an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) carries the ball with Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David (54) defending during the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) runs after a catch for a 6-yard touchdown during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Pittsburgh, PA. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) tries to stiff arm Carolina Panthers cornerback Myles Hartsfield (38) during an NFL football game between the Carolina Panthers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) looks on before an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) stiff arms Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) during an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) rushes during an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) carries the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Atlanta.(AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) runs with the ball against the Las Vegas Raiders during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct 13, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) carries against New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams in the first half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants Monday, Oct. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) in action during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) carries the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) slides while cutting back during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) scores a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris (22) carries during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
Pittsburgh Steelers' Najee Harris in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Pittsburgh Steelers' Najee Harris plays during an NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Jackson, who entered the NFL as a second-round pick (55th overall) by Carolina in the 2018 NFL Draft, is one of just six NFL players over the last seven seasons to have at least 15 interceptions, 15 tackles for loss, 50 pass breakups and an interception returned for a touchdown. He has started 92-of-96 career games played for the Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers, including the postseason, totaling 342 tackles (276 solo), a sack, 19 interceptions, a pick-six, 54 passes defensed, 17 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and three recoveries. In 15 starts last season for the Steelers, Jackson set a career-high with five interceptions, ranking tied for No. 6 in the NFL and tied for second in the AFC.
Over three seasons at Louisiana State (2015-17), Jackson appeared in 37 games, totaling 114 tackles (85 solo), five tackles for loss, a sack, four interceptions, 20 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a recovery. In addition to his football career, Jackson was a top sprinter for the Tigers' track and field team. He broke out in the 2016 indoor season by running the 60-meter dash in 6.63 seconds, ranking fourth in program history. Jackson was crowned a Southeastern Conference Champion as the lead leg in a 4x100-meter relay in 2017, winning the conference title with a time of 38.71 seconds.
The Los Angeles Chargers agreed to terms with cornerback **Donte Jackson**.
Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) plays against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) runs an interception back for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) returns an interception for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, October 16, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson celebrates during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) celebrates a tackle during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) warms up before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) is tackled by Carolina Panthers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) during an NFL football game on Sunday, Jan. 07, 2024, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Rusty Jones)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Denver .(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) intercepts a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) intercepts a pass in front of Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) is congratulated by linebacker Jeremiah Moon (49) after intercepting a pass against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) reacts after a play against the Las Vegas Raiders during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct 13, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) celebrates after an interception during an NFL football game, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) celebrates his interception in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Pittsburgh Steelers' Donte Jackson in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Pittsburgh Steelers' Donte Jackson in action during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson (26) in action during the second half of an NFL football wild card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens, Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
