Najee Harris, aged 27, began a new chapter of his career after leaving the Steelers for free agency by signing an initial one-year deal worth $5.25 million with the Chargers.
As NFL training camps are on the horizon, set to commence by late July, players are currently enjoying their off-season. However, a festive celebration on July 4 turned sour for Chargers’ running back Najee Harris, who encountered a minor mishap involving fireworks. According to Harris’ agent Doug Hendrickson, despite sustaining a superficial eye injury from the incident, Harris is optimistically projected to recover in time for the 2025 NFL season.
Fireworks Mishap Results in Eye Injury for Najee Harris
Independence Day fireworks, meant for enjoyment and celebration, unfortunately resulted in an unfortunate incident for Harris at a Fourth of July event where fireworks caused multiple injuries including superficial eye trauma for him and several attendees at that event. Recalling former Giants/Buccaneers defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul who lost 2.5 fingers due to fireworks accident is yet another stark reminder of fireworks dangers that should not be ignored.
Harris was fortunate to escape with only minor injury, avoiding what could have been season-threatening ramifications. After years of consistent performance with the Steelers resulting in numerous 1,000 yard rushing seasons, his presence is anticipated by both teams; Melvin Gordon in 2017 having provided them with such an option and Omarion Hampton making waves with their draft selection showing they plan to prioritize his development; although Harris may face challenges starting, his experience and performance history will undoubtedly come in handy as 2025 unfolds.