Najee Harris, the former running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers, showcased remarkable progress in his Najee Harris recovery progress five months after undergoing Achilles tendon surgery. On Monday, his agent, Doug Hendrickson, shared video footage of Harris effortlessly running at 15 mph on a treadmill, highlighting the athlete’s impressive rehabilitation advancement.
Details Surrounding the Injury and Recent Setbacks
Harris sustained the Achilles injury during the Chargers’ Week 3 match against the Denver Broncos, collapsing after receiving a handoff from quarterback Justin Herbert. Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh later confirmed the diagnosis of a ruptured Achilles tendon, which ended Harris’s season prematurely. This injury adds to a challenging year for Harris, who also suffered an eye injury caused by a firework accident on the Fourth of July. Although he missed all of training camp and the preseason due to the eye incident, Harris was cleared to play in Week 1, describing the eye injury as superficial and reporting no vision impairment.
Career Background and Support from Former Coach
Najee Harris was drafted in the first round (24th overall) in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Steelers, coming out of Alabama. Known for his consistent performance, Harris rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first four seasons. However, his overall career fell short of the high expectations set by his draft status. After his Achilles injury, former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that he has maintained communication with Harris, though he kept the details private during a press conference in Ireland before a Steelers-Vikings game.
Performance Before Injury and Next Steps
In three games with the Chargers this season, Harris amassed 37 yards on nine carries, showing glimpses of his capabilities despite the setbacks. His recovery progress, particularly the ability to run at high speed just five months post-operation, signals a positive trend toward returning to professional play. The speed and ease displayed during his treadmill run suggest that with continued rehabilitation, Harris could regain his athletic form in due course.
Najee Harris looking OUTSTANDING 5 months post op from Achilles. Running with ease at 15 mph. @chargers #freeagency #teamwass #LFG pic.twitter.com/LOiUqzt3qn
— Doug Hendrickson (@DHendrickson41) February 23, 2026
