Jerome Bettis Points Fingers at Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren for Steelers’ 2024 Offensive Woes

The Pittsburgh Steelers were expecting big seasons from their running backs Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in the 2024 season. Many fans believed that with the addition of new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, the Steelers’ running game would become physically dominant and punishing. However, the offense never quite reached that level, and while Harris managed another 1,000-yard rushing season, his overall impact wasn’t enough to lift Pittsburgh out of their playoff drought.

Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers’ Najee Harris runs the ball during a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in 2024.

Warren also had his share of struggles, battling injuries throughout the season. Despite showing flashes of his trademark burst, his contributions fell short of expectations. The Steelers’ running game, a key area of focus heading into the season, failed to take over games and provide the offensive stability the team needed.

Steelers legend Jerome Bettis weighed in on the team’s struggles during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show. Bettis, when asked about the underperforming offense, emphasized that blaming Russell Wilson alone wasn’t fair. Instead, he pointed to the need for improved production from the running back position, indirectly suggesting that Harris and Warren were not part of the solution for the Steelers’ offensive failures in 2024.

“Right now, the Steelers have gone through this window of time where they’ve been trying to figure out the quarterback situation and they have failed,” Bettis said. “They have not gotten it right. So I think that’s what they gotta figure out. I think if you put Russell [Wilson] in the position where he’s got two really good receivers, a really good offensive line, a good running back, he can be successful. But to ask Russell Wilson to carry this football team on his back at the quarterback position, I think it’s unfair to him at this stage in his career.”

Bettis didn’t directly say that Harris and Warren had bad seasons, but anyone who watched the Steelers during their five-game losing streak can tell they underperformed, simply from the eye test.

Peter Diana / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Steelers running back Jerome Bettis takes a handoff from Ben Roethlisberger during a game in January 2006.

Neither Harris nor Warren did enough to get the running game going. While it’s true that the struggles weren’t entirely on them, the high expectations for the duo weren’t met. Bettis went on to highlight other issues the Steelers are facing as well.

“They need a second receiver,” Bettis said. “A big-time receiver. They don’t have one on the other side of George Pickens. They’ve got to figure out about George Pickens in terms of can he be the player that they need him to be. On the field, off the field.”

The 2025 offseason presents major question marks for the Steelers. George Pickens has been productive and exciting over the past three seasons, but his maturity has been called into question too often. Some believe Pickens could either be traded or extended before the 2025 season.

A significant decision looms regarding him and the future of the Steelers’ wide receiver corps. As Bettis pointed out, even with Pickens, the team needs more help at the position. Getting rid of Pickens would be sad but the Steelers have shown no fear in moving on from star but troubled wide receivers.

Steelers Have An Exciting Offseason Planned

Harris will be a free agent, and many doubt the Steelers will bring him back, which could open the door for Warren to take on a larger role in 2025 and prove he can be the starting back. That is, of course, if Warren is part of the team’s long-term plans. And let’s not forget the quarterback situation, which will also be under intense scrutiny.

Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Steelers’ Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren working on a drill together at practice.

With coaching changes possible at all levels, there’s a lot of speculation surrounding the Steelers. The team finds itself stuck in a frustrating limbo—good enough for decent seasons, but not quite strong enough to contend for Super Bowls. That’s simply not the standard in Pittsburgh, and Bettis knows it. All eyes will be on the front office as they face crucial decisions during the 2025 offseason.

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