The New York Giants today signed Najee Harris, a former Pro Bowl running back who needs no introduction to his new head coach.
John Harbaugh faced Harris repeatedly in the rugged AFC North.
"I felt like the hair on the back of my neck stood up when I saw him over there," Harbaugh said Monday after the Giants worked Harris out. "He's a big dude."
In a corresponding move, the Giants released wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Harris was drafted 24th overall by the Steelers in 2021, never missing a start while rushing for 1,000 yards in each of his first four seasons. He then signed with the Chargers, who are led by John's brother Jim Harbaugh, as a free agent in 2025. But his season was cut short when he suffered a torn Achilles in a Week 3 game against the Broncos. The next week, the Chargers faced the Giants at MetLife Stadium in Jaxson Dart's first career start.
"He's an experienced back," Harbaugh said after they signed him on Tuesday. "Anybody that's watched him play knows what type of a back he is. He's a downhill runner, physical runner. I've played against him a lot. I have a good feel for who he is as a player. Everybody that's been around him, my brother, G-RO (Senior Offensive Assistant Greg Roman), (former Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach) Mike Tomlin, love him as a teammate. So, excited for the possibilities."
Harris was added to a running back room that recently lost Dante Miller, who suffered a groin injury in the preseason opener.
"I want opportunity," Harris said after his first practice with the Giants. "I think this is a good opportunity here. I think the style of play that they're heading towards is the style of play that aligns with me. Harbaugh coming from the AFC North, me playing against him a lot of times, I know the type of style of football he wants. I think that we align with each other with what type of football we want to play. I think that just coming here is a good opportunity, and I'm willing to just put my foot in there and help out in any way I can."
Harris has played in 71 regular-season games with 68 starts. His career numbers include 1,112 rushing attempts for 4,373 yards (3.9 yards per carry) and 28 touchdowns, in addition to 183 catches for 1,174 yards and six more scores. Harris, 6-1 and 242 pounds, has also started three postseason games.
Before the injury, Harris ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing yards from 2021-24. He became the 14th player in NFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards in each of his first four seasons.
In 2021, he was selected to the Pro Bowl and named All-Rookie by the Professional Football Writers of America.
Prior to the NFL, Harris was a two-time national champion 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).
Harris also won the Doak Walker Award, which annually recognizes college football's best running back, and earned unanimous All-American recognition after setting a single-season program record with 30 total touchdowns en route to his second College Football Playoff title.
"I most definitely go into every year with a chip on my shoulder, but more so much this year," Harris said. "I have a lot to prove as somebody coming back from a torn Achilles. Really everything that I did in the past is in the past, and everything I do now is really what matters. I know there are going to be a lot of questions of how I'll come back looking, and I'm ready to answer all those."
View every move made by the New York Giants during the 2026 cycle.
OL Kendrick Green - Practice Squad Veteran (October 2)
OL Darian Kinnard - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (October 2)
OLB Jihad Ward - Free Agent Signing from MIN Practice Squad (October 1)
DL Josh Tupou - Practice Squad Veteran (October 1)
DL Josh Tupou - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 30)
QB Jake Haener - Practice Squad Exception (September 30)
WR Braxton Berrios - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 29)
WR Charlie Jones - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 29)
OLB Brian Burns - Reserve/Injured (September 29)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 29)
DL PJ Mustipher - Practice Squad Exception (September 29)
QB J.J. McCarthy - Acquired (from MIN) for 2027 Fifth Round Pick (September 28)
QB Jake Haener - Waived, No Recall (September 28)
QB Jake Haener - Free Agent Signing from NYG Practice Squad (September 26)
WR Braxton Berrios - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
LB Malik Harrison - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 26)
QB Jaxson Dart - Reserve/Injured (September 24)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Practice Squad Exception (September 22)
OL Ryan Schernecke - Practice Squad (September 22)
OL Kingsley Eguakun - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 22)
DB Elijah Jones - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 22)
WR Braxton Berrios - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
LB Malik Harrison - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 21)
CB Nikko Reed - Free Agent Signing (from LAC PS) (September 18)
CB Paulson Adebo - Reserve/Injured (September 18)
CB Jaden Robinson - Practice Squad (September 17)
OL Ryan Schernecke - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 17)
DL Josh Tupou - Free Agent Signing from NYG PS (September 16)
WR Dalen Cambre - Practice Squad (September 16)
RB Phil Mafah - Practice Squad (September 14)
WR Dalen Cambre - Waived, No Recall (September 14)
WR Dalen Cambre - Free Agent Signing (from NYG PS) (September 12)
WR Braxton Berrios - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 12)
LB Malik Harrison - Activated, from Practice Squad (Standard Elevation) (September 12)
WR Darius Slayton - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (September 7)
G Jon Runyan Jr. - Signed, 2-year contract extension (September 7)
QB Jameis Winston - Signed, 2-year contract extension (September 7)
LB Malik Harrison - Practice Squad Veteran (September 3)
DL Ben Barten - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 3)
OL Geno VanDeMark - Practice Squad (September 2)
DB JT Woods - Terminated (by Club) from Practice Squad (September 2)
OL Kingsley Eguakun - Practice Squad (September 1)
WR Charlie Jones - Practice Squad Veteran (September 1)
OL Darian Kinnard - Practice Squad Veteran (September 1)
DB Elijah Jones - Practice Squad Exception (September 1)
DL Ben Barten, WR Dalen Cambre, FB Grant Finley, OLB Trace Ford, DB Raheem Layne, LB Chandler Martin, OL Ryan Schernecke - Practice Squad (August 31)
WR Braxton Berrios, WR Jalin Hyatt, DL Josh Tupou - Practice Squad Veteran (August 31)
QB Jake Haener, DB J.T. Woods - Practice Squad Exception (August 31)
OL Jarrod Gray - International Practice Player Signing (August 31)
CB Korie Black - Reserve/Injured / Designated for Return (August 30)
CB Art Green, K Ben Sauls - Waived, Injury Settlement (August 30)
DL Anquin Barnes Jr., DL Ben Barten, S Beau Brade, WR Dalen Cambre, FB Grant Finley, OLB Trace Ford, WR Xavier Gipson, RB Eric Gray, OL Jarrod Gray, QB Jake Haener, WR Jalin Hyatt, OL Jake Kubas, LB Chandler Martin, LB Darius Muasau, OLB Caleb Murphy, DL Zacch Pickens, OL Ryan Schernecke, S J.T. Woods - Waived, No Recall (August 30)
QB Brandon Allen, WR Braxton Berrios, TE Tanner Conner, DL Marlon Davidson, OLB Khalid Kareem, S Raheem Layne, OL Evan Neal, OL Lucas Patrick, DL Josh Tupou - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 30)
RB Damon Bankston, LB Anfernee Orji, WR Kobe Prentice - Waived, No Recall (August 29)
CB Ugo Amadi, TE Josiah Deguara, DL Leki Fotu, WR Isaiah Hodgins, OL Brenden Jaimes - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 29)
WR Calvin Austin III - Reserve/Injured (August 27)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Traded (to KC) for 2028 Seventh Round Pick (August 26)
TE Josiah Deguara - Free Agent Signing (August 26)
WR Kobe Prentice - Free Agent Signing (August 26)
WR Ryan Miller - Waived, No Recall (August 24)
DL Ben Barten - Claimed (off waivers from NYJ) (August 19)
OL Daniel Faalele - Traded (to JAX) for 2027 Sixth Round Pick (August 18)
RB Najee Harris - Free Agent Signing (August 18)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 18)
QB Jake Haener - Free Agent Signing (August 17)
LB Chandler Martin - Free Agent Signing (August 17)
RB Dante Miller - Waived/Injured (August 17)
DB Sam Webb - Reserve/Retired (August 16)
DB Ugo Amadi - Free Agent Signing (August 13)
DB Sam Webb - Free Agent Signing (August 13)
CB David Long Jr. - Terminated, Vested Veteran (August 13)
CB DJ James - Waived/Injured (August 13)
S JT Woods - Free Agent Signing (August 10)
DL Sam Roberts - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (August 10)
OL Brenden Jaimes - Free Agent Signing (August 8)
CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse - Waived/Injured (August 7)
FB Grant Finley - Free Agent Signing (August 6)
TE Tyler Moore - Waived, No Recall (August 6)
DB David Long Jr. - Free Agent Signing (August 5)
DB D.J. James - Free Agent Signing (August 5)
DL Roy Robertson-Harris - Reserve/Injured (August 5)
WR Beaux Collins - Waived/Injured (August 5)
LB Anfernee Orji - Free Agent Signing (July 30)
DL Ben Barten - Waived, No Recall (July 30)
TE Thomas Fidone II - Passed Physical (July 28)
DL Sam Roberts - Passed Physical (July 28)
DL Marlon Davidson - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
TE Tyler Moore - Free Agent Signing (July 28)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Waived, Non-Football Injury (July 25)
LB Cam Jones - Waived, No Recall (July 25)
DL C.J. Ravenell - Claimed (off waivers from TEN) (July 7)
CB Rico Payton - Waived/Injured (July 7)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster - Free Agent Signing (June 2)
K Jason Sanders - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (June 2)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. - Free Agent Signing (June 1)
WR Braxton Berrios - Free Agent Signing (June 1)
OL Jarrod Gray - Free Agent Signing: Exempt/International Player (June 1)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Reserve/Injured (June 1)
LS Zach Triner - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (June 1)
LB Arvell Reese - Selection List Signing (May 29)
OL Francis Mauigoa - Selection List Signing (May 27)
DL Josh Tupou - Free Agent Signing (May 27)
T Reid Holskey - Waived, No Recall (May 27)
OLB Khalid Kareem - Free Agent Signing (May 14)
CB Thaddeus Dixon - Reserve/Injured (May 14)
CB Colton Hood - Selection List Signing (May 12)
RB Damon Bankston - Free Agent Signing (May 8)
WR Malachi Fields - Selection List Signing (May 7)
DL Bobby Jamison-Travis - Selection List Signing (May 7)
OL J.C. Davis - Selection List Signing (May 7)
LB Jack Kelly - Selection List Signing (May 7)
DT Anquin Barnes, DL Ben Barten, CB Thaddeus Dixon, LS Ben Mann, OL Ryan Schernecke, K Dominic Zvada - Free Agent Signing (May 7)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
DL Elijah Chatman - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
WR Courtney Jackson - Waived, No Recall (May 7)
DL Marlon Tuipulotu - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (May 7)
DL DJ Reader - Free Agent Signing (May 6)
DL Zacch Pickens - Claimed off Waivers from KC (May 5)
DL Leki Fotu - Free Agent Signing (April 30)
DL Shelby Harris - Free Agent Signing (April 30)
LB DeMarvin Leal - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (April 25)
LB Jack Kelly - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 193 overall) (April 25)
OL J.C. Davis - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 192 overall) (April 25)
DL Bobby Jamison-Travis - Selected in the 6th Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 186 overall) (April 25)
WR Malachi Fields - Selected in the 3rd Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 74 overall) (April 24)
CB Colton Hood - Selected in the 2nd Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 37 overall) (April 24)
OL Francis Mauigoa - Selected in the 1st Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 10 overall) (April 23)
LB Arvell Reese - Selected in the 1st Round of 2026 NFL Draft (No. 5 overall) (April 23)
DL Dexter Lawrence - Traded (to CIN) for 2026 First Round Pick (No. 10 overall) (April 19)
QB Brandon Allen - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 13)
OL Daniel Faalele - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 9)
WR Ryan Miller - Exclusive Rights Signing (April 7)
OL Lucas Patrick - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (April 6)
WR Da'Quan Felton, DB Patrick McMorris, DB T.J. Moore, DB Myles Purchase - Waived, No Recall (April 6)
K Graham Gano - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 30)
LB Cam Jones - Free Agent Signing (March 25)
LS Zach Triner - Free Agent Signing (March 24)
DL Sam Roberts - Free Agent Signing (March 23)
DB Elijah Campbell - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 20)
OL Joshua Ezeudu - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 18)
WR Darnell Mooney - Free Agent Signing (March 17)
S Jason Pinnock - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 16)
WR Calvin Austin III - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 14)
LB Zaire Barnes - Free Agent Signing (March 14)
P Jordan Stout - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 13)
CB Greg Newsome II - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 13)
OL Aaron Stinnie - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
S Ar'Darius Washington - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
CB Art Green - Re-signed (March 12)
TE Isaiah Likely - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
FB Patrick Ricard - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
LB Tremaine Edmunds - Free Agent Signing (March 12)
T Jermaine Eluemunor - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 12)
K Jason Sanders - Free Agent Signing (March 11)
Chris Board - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 11)
P Jamie Gillan - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 11)
OL Evan Neal - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
WR Isaiah Hodgins - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
LB Micah McFadden - Unrestricted Free Agent Signing (March 11)
OLB Caleb Murphy - Re-signed (March 10)
S Anthony Johnson - Waived, No Recall (March 10)
WR Gunner Olszewski - Re-signed (March 6)
T James Hudson III - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 6)
LB Bobby Okereke - Terminated, Vested Veteran, all contracts (March 4)
WR Courtney Jackson - Free Agent Signing (February 13)
LB DeMarvin Leal - Reserve/Future (January 22)
DT Marlon Tuipulotu - Reserve/Future (January 13)
G Jake Kubas - Reserve/Future (January 7)
LB Swayze Bozeman - Reserve/Future (January 5)
TE Tanner Conner - Reserve/Future (January 5)
OLB Trace Ford - Reserve/Future (January 5)
T Reid Holskey - Reserve/Future (January 5)
S Patrick McMorris - Reserve/Future (January 5)
CB Myles Purchase - Reserve/Future (January 5)
