Is Najee Harris related to late Steelers RB Franco Harris? Fact-checking last name relation assumption made by NFL fans

Pittsburgh Steelers legendary running back Franco Harris recently passed away. Interestingly, many fans seem to think that current Steelers running back Najee Harris is related to Franco. However, that isn't the case. The duo, despite sharing a surname, are not from the same family.

Franco Harris is an NFL legend and his legacy will be remembered forever. The NFL world mourned his death and cherished the moments that he gave on the field.

In light of his death, the Pittsburgh Steelers won a very close game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett played poorly for most of the game but put together a good drive, connecting with George Pickens for a game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Although Najee Harris isn't related to Franco Harris, he would love to continue his legacy in Pittsburgh. Against the Las Vegas Raiders, Najee Harris rushed for 53 yards on 16 carries.

Franco's jersey number was retired last night as it marked the 50th anniversary of his Immaculate Reception. Unfortunately, the legendary Steelers running-back passed away just a few days before being honored in front of the fans.

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Franco Harris recently praised Najee Harris

Najee Harris: Pittsburgh Steelers v Atlanta Falcons

Franco Harris is one of the biggest names in Steelers franchise history and carrying on his legacy is no easy task for any player. Najee Harris has had a strong start to his career, and he was praised by Franco as well.

As per Steelers Depot, here's what Franco said about Najee Harris a couple of months ago:

“I’m a fan of Najee and what he did last year. He made me a fan, We know he’s doing great things as a running back and plus we know that he’s a great human being.”

Najee Harris was selected with the 24th overall pick from Alabama in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Steelers are in a transitional period and Harris is an important part of their offense. With rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett and rookie wide receiver George Pickens also stepping up, this could be the start of something special for them.

So far in his career, Najee Harris has recorded 534 carries for 2,043 yards. He also has 112 catches for 674 yards and has scored 18 touchdowns. Meanwhile, Franco Harris in his 12-season-long NFL career had 2,949 carries for 12,120 yards, 307 catches for 2,287 yards, and scored 100 touchdowns. Steelers fans will hope that Najee Harris will turn out to be a great player for them and carry the legacy of Franco Harris.

With Pittsburgh now standing at 7-8, they are still very much alive in the playoff hunt. If they win out, they could still make the postseason, which would be a huge surprise given how poorly the season started for them. It will be interesting to see if they can do it in the coming weeks.

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