Najee Harris
A powerful and patient running back whose record-breaking college career at Alabama launched him into becoming an immediate NFL workhorse.
Born 1998 (age 28)·American football player·Birthday: March 9·Generation Z
Biography
Najee Harris's football story is one of relentless production. At Alabama, under coach Nick Saban, he transformed from a highly-touted recruit into a collegiate legend, shattering the school's career records for rushing yards and touchdowns. His style—a blend of surprising agility for his size, unwavering patience behind the line, and a knack for hurdling defenders—made him a highlight staple. Selected in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021, he stepped into a starting role from day one, earning a Pro Bowl nod as a rookie by shouldering one of the heaviest workloads in the league. His ability to grind out tough yards and contribute as a receiver made him the focal point of the Steelers' offense for several seasons, embodying the classic, durable running back in a modern passing era.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Najee was born in 1998, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Najee Was Born
The biggest hits of 1998
#1 Movie
Saving Private Ryan
Best Picture
Shakespeare in Love
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Najee's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1998Born
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2003Started school
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2011Became a teenager
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2014Could drive
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2016Could vote
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2019Turned 21
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 28 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Broke the University of Alabama's all-time records for career rushing yards (3,843) and total touchdowns (57).
- Won two College Football Playoff National Championships with Alabama in 2017 and 2020.
- Named a First-team All-Pro and selected to the Pro Bowl in his rookie NFL season (2021).
- Rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Did You Know?
He lived in homeless shelters with his family during parts of his childhood in California.
He famously hurdled over Notre Dame safety Shaun Crawford during the 2021 Rose Bowl, a play that went viral.
His middle name is 'Mzee', which is a Swahili term of respect for an elder.
He wrote and published a book of poetry titled "Face It: The Poetry of Najee Harris" in 2020.
“The struggle is part of the story.”
