Giants sign free agent RB Najee Harris to bolster backfield

Pat Leonard, New York Daily News on Aug 18, 2026

Published in Football

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NEW YORK — The Giants’ offseason-long interest in adding a running back culminated Tuesday in the signing of free agent Najee Harris.

The 6-1, 242-pound veteran is a physical runner who John Harbaugh knows well as an opponent.

Harris, 28, rushed for 1,000-plus yards in four straight seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2021-24 in the same AFC North division as Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens.

Then he signed with Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, and the Los Angeles Chargers last year before tearing his Achilles three games into the regular season.

“I know there’s gonna be a lot of questions about how I’ll come back,” Harris said Tuesday after practice. “I’m ready to answer all those.”

Harris’ size and downhill running style will contribute to the bully ball mentality Harbaugh is trying to build in New York.

He only did individual drills in his new, blue No. 22 jersey on Tuesday in his first day with the team, but Harbaugh said he believes Harris will be ready to play in “two-to-three weeks, just in time, probably.”

Just in time, in other words, for the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13.

“He’s a big dude” Harbaugh said. “He’s not back 100 percent. He’s not in football shape yet. ... But that would be a guy that has got a lot of experience. He’s a decorated vet.”

The Giants, who cut receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster to make room for Harris, knew they needed to add to their running back room all offseason, even with the signing of fullback Pat Ricard to open wider lanes for their existing backfield.

They expressed interest in Seahawks Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker in free agency before he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, and they had their eyes on Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love before the Arizona Cardinals picked him No. 3 overall in April.

Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary and Eric Gray all are returning from last season. Dante “Turbo” Miller was just waived/injured with a groin injury. And undrafted rookie Damon Bankston is handling preseason second half duties.

Skattebo is running pretty well coming off of last season’s dislocated ankle and left leg fracture. But the Giants have been managing his reps carefully. Harbaugh noted Monday that “I don’t think [Skattebo] is 100 percent.”

And the reality is no running back on the Giants’ roster currently is a true No. 1.

Harris has taken a winding road recently to New York.

He spent time last offseason recovering from a superficial eye injury that was the result of a fireworks accident on July 5, 2025. The Chargers were planning a one-two punch of Harris and rookie first-round pick Omarion Hampton until Harris tore his Achilles.

The Giants similarly are looking for a veteran who can help carry a workload.

The pressure also ratchets up now on Tracy, who blew a pass protection that got quarterback Jaxson Dart smoked in the Giants’ preseason opener, although Tracy did take the first reps behind Jaxson Dart in Tuesday’s 11-on-11 period.

Skattebo will be healthy enough to play in Week 1, and Singletary is having a pretty good camp on a minimum deal. Clearly, though, Harris is here to play a significant role once he gets up to speed.

And that could happen quickly.

Fourth QB joins

The Giants also signed quarterback Jake Haener. Third-string QB Brandon Allen’s bad camp bled into a bad first preseason game that compromised the offense’s ability to function. The Giants need a different arm to give their full roster a chance to make plays. Haener, 27, beat the Giants in December 2024 in relief of Derek Carr for a Darren Rizzi-led Saints team… Smith-Schuster was struggling to stay on the field in camp due to a knee issue. The team eventually just cut ties … The Giants will fly to Miami on Wednesday to face the Miami Dolphins in a Thursday morning joint practice before facing off again on Saturday in their second preseason game.