Pittsburgh Steelers Bring Back Linebacker James Harrison
By Larry Snyder
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Sunday that they have signed James Harrison to a two-year contract.
The financial terms of the deal were not released. However, Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette had this on Twitter…
Harrison's two-year deal is for $2.75 million, $500k signing bonus.
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) March 22, 2015
In 2015, the 6-foot, 242-pound veteran linebacker will enter his 13th season in the National Football League. It will be his 12th campaign in the Steel City. The Kent State product was with the Black and Gold in 2002, 2004-2012 and 2014. He played for the NFL Europe’s Rhein Fire and was briefly a member of the Baltimore Ravens in 2003/2004. Harrison played 10 games in 2013 with the Cincinnati Bengals.
More from Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pittsburgh Steelers: A Look Back at 2019
- Steelers: Need for QB of the Future is More Apparent than Ever
- Steelers: Defense Needs to Take Advantage of Inconsistent Bills Passing Attack
- Steelers: Devlin Hodges Has Chance to Make Lasting Impression in Week 14
- Steelers: James Washington’s Emergence Could Make Offense Dangerous
Last season, Harrison contributed 45 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and four starts in 11 regular season games. He had two tackles in the team’s postseason match-up against Baltimore. He joins Jarvis Jones and Arthur Moats as the outside linebackers with NFL experience on the roster. The Black and Gold added former Canadian Football League linebacker Shawn Lemon back in January.
Harrison will turn 37 in May, and originally signed with Pittsburgh as an undrafted rookie free agent in April 2002.
The Akron, Ohio native has a total of 108 starts and has appeared in 157 regular season games. He claimed five consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2007-2011 in a Steeler uniform. Harrison was twice named the Steelers Most Valuable Player in 2007 and 2008.
He helped the team to capture two Super Bowl Championships (SB’s 40 and 43) in three title game appearances. He returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown off of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner in the first half of Super Bowl 43. It remains the longest interception return in Super Bowl history.
Harrison is tied for first in team history with 17 multi-sack games and is second with 69.5 sacks since the statistic became official in 1982. He recorded a safety in 2008 against San Diego when he sacked Chargers signal caller Philip Rivers.
This in from the Steelers Twitter account…
"Can't wait for THIS to happen again this season. @jharrison9292 https://t.co/kB45faiMV6— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) March 22, 2015"
From The Clipboard: The NFL Owners Meetings begin today in Phoenix. Pittsburgh is expected to vote against expanding instant replay…According to ESPN Roster management, the Steelers were approximately $8.446 million under the salary cap before the Harrison signing…ESPN’s Michael Rothstein is reporting that Michigan quarterback/wide receiver Devin Gardner will visit the Steel City in the coming weeks.