Bart Scott Bashes Najee Harris for Throwing Unnecessary Shade on Steelers: “You Ungrateful Dude”
Former NFL linebacker Bart Scott didn’t hold back when addressing Najee Harris, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ standout running back, after Harris made some controversial comments about his team. Scott, known for his outspoken nature as a player and analyst, took to social media and TV to call out Harris, accusing him of being “ungrateful” for his remarks about the Steelers’ offense and organizational direction.
Harris, who has been with the Steelers since being drafted in 2021, had been vocal about his frustrations with the team’s offensive struggles. After a tough season in 2024, in which Pittsburgh’s offense failed to live up to expectations, Harris expressed his dissatisfaction with the play calling and the lack of support from the coaching staff. In an interview, he hinted that the Steelers’ offense wasn’t doing enough to help him succeed, suggesting that the team wasn’t as committed to winning as he was.
Those comments didn’t sit well with Bart Scott, who spent years playing in the NFL and understands the pressures of being a professional athlete. On ESPN’s First Take, Scott didn’t mince words, calling Harris’ remarks disrespectful and inappropriate. “Najee Harris is out here throwing shade on his own team, and it’s completely unnecessary,” Scott said, visibly frustrated. “You’re a young player in a league full of great players, and you’re calling out the organization that gave you your shot? You ungrateful dude.”
Scott went on to criticize Harris for not understanding the bigger picture, especially considering the Steelers’ storied history as a franchise and the challenges the team faced in 2024. “The Steelers are a proud franchise,” Scott explained. “They’ve been successful for decades, and their coaches have built an environment where hard work and loyalty are valued. So for Najee to come out and badmouth the organization like that? It’s wrong, plain and simple.”
Many fans and analysts were surprised by Harris’ comments, as he has often been regarded as a passionate and dedicated player. However, with Pittsburgh’s offense struggling throughout the season, it’s understandable why Harris might have felt frustrated. The Steelers’ offense was plagued by inconsistent play at the quarterback position, poor offensive line play, and a lack of explosive plays, which ultimately hindered Harris’ ability to put up strong numbers as the team’s primary offensive weapon.
While some understood Harris’ frustrations, many felt that airing grievances publicly was a poor choice. In the eyes of Scott and others, it’s part of a player’s responsibility to support the team, even when things aren’t going well. Scott pointed out that in his own career, he had faced similar frustrations but chose to handle them behind closed doors rather than criticize the team in the media. “Sometimes you’ve got to suck it up and be a leader,” Scott said. “You don’t see veteran guys like Tom Brady or Aaron Donald coming out and bashing their teams when things aren’t going right. They know how to handle adversity.”
Scott also pointed to Harris’ relatively short tenure with the Steelers and suggested that he needed to understand the weight of playing for an iconic franchise like Pittsburgh. “You’re not bigger than the team,” Scott asserted. “You’re not bigger than the franchise. You’ve got to earn your respect in this league.”
Despite the backlash from Scott and others, some fans rallied behind Harris, acknowledging his frustration with the team’s struggles and pointing out that the lack of support for a young running back in a system that wasn’t tailored to his strengths could have contributed to his outburst. Others, however, echoed Scott’s sentiments, suggesting that Harris should focus on his role and allow the coaching staff and front office to do their jobs.
In the end, the drama between Bart Scott and Najee Harris highlights the high stakes and pressure that come with being a professional athlete in the NFL. Harris, now faced with the challenge of restoring his relationship with both his teammates and the Steelers’ fanbase, will need to prove that he can channel his frustrations into productive play rather than letting off steam in public. Whether Harris can mature into a team leader for the Steelers or whether the organization will look to move on remains to be seen.
