Pittsburgh Steelers: What is James Harrison’s legacy?

Months after failing to win a Super Bowl with New England, James Harrison retired after 15 seasons. How will the former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker be remembered?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the gold standard in the football when it comes to producing linebackers. Some of the most notorious (and greatest) linebackers have donned the black and gold through their respective time periods, from Jack Lambert to Joey Porter. However, one name stands on it’s own unique level in Steelers history, a name that perhaps one day will join fellow brethren in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

James Harrison brings a lot of emotion and mixed feelings for Steelers fans in 2018. A man who was once coveted by an entire fan base quickly turned himself to a figure of hatred around the Steel City. Harrison embodied himself as a hard working man who earned his living with the same grit and grind that represented an entire demographic who pulled for him on Sundays.

However, by a move that can only be equaled as watching a Jedi move to the dark side, he found himself on the very team he once despised.

"“I should have another ring. We were the best team in football in 2004, but the Patriots, who we beat during the regular season, stole our signals and picked up 90 percent of our blitzes… I hate those (expletives), especially those two clowns who talked about me after the fines.”- Harrison in an interview with Men’s Journal in 2012"

Time changes many things in our lives. Our tastes in food, fashion, and life views are all susceptible to change over the years. Even down to the world of football, gameplans and schemes come and go, and that’s where the bridge began to burn between Harrison and the Steelers.

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While still efficiently getting to the quarterback, Harrison entered his 15th season in 2017, and Pittsburgh knew it wouldn’t be long before a replacement was needed. Enter T.J. Watt, a young and promising outside linebacker who made serious noise in his first few impressions on the field. Harrison’s playing time dipped considerably due to Watt’s increasing play, to the point where he wasn’t even dressed in a handful of games.

After being told in the off-season he would still see a good portion of the field, Harrison had enough and made enough noise to be released by the Steelers shortly after voicing his displeasure. The Patriots, notorious for poaching veteran talent, did just that and signed Harrison to a one-year contract worth $58,824, plus whatever playoff bonuses he earned with the team.

If you’re not into numbers and salary cap figures, Harrison’s contract was a middle finger in response to a subtle one given by the Steelers throughout the season. A couple games later, and millions of people across the world saw Harrison storming through a sea of confetti after a Super Bowl loss. Eagles fans were by far the happiest in the world, but surely those in Pittsburgh were a close second.

Now here we sit, three months following that memorable night, with Harrison in retirement. The linebacker put together quite the career for himself after going undrafted and signed to the Steelers practice squad. Harrison finished as the team’s all-time leader in sacks (80.5), won NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2008) and added two Super Bowls to his resume.

The debate of whether his accolades are Hall of Fame worthy have been the topic of discussion in recent days among national media, however the debates in barbershops around Pittsburgh are much more focused: What’s his legacy?

For the present time and near future, many still cling to the images of Harrison in a Patriots uniform and cringe. To some who have watched the Steelers for years, what Harrison did is on treasonous levels. The move to the Bengals cut it close, but surely a smirk and swing of the pen on a contract with you-know-who in Boston crossed the line.

Yet the Steelers organization could have prevented such things from happening, and thus fans cannot blindly turn away from faulty navigating from both sides. This is not to justify Harrison’s move to play with the Brady Bunch, yet it’s to understand with clear eyes why such a thing could happen.

There are certain people that are remembered for one thing or another. Fitzgerald Touissant for fumbling against the Broncos, Todd Haley for screen passes on third-and-20, etc. To pick one moment for Harrison’s career is a tough task. Surely the interception return against the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII ranks as the top, yet how can anybody forget the jarring hits he delivered so consistently?

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His legacy will ultimately be held of high regards. One jersey swap shouldn’t smear an entire stretch of dominance in black and gold. Pittsburgh loved Harrison at his highs and lows, and there’s no reason that shouldn’t continue into his life after football. Harrison will be remembered for many things, from his inhuman workout regime to being public enemy No. 1 in the NFL.

Yet he will ultimately be remembered as one of the best Steelers linebackers to ever play, and there’s no amount of confetti to cover that up. Congratulations on a tremendous career, Deebo.