You rarely hear former Alabama Crimson Tide players say anything negative about head coach Nick Saban but former Bama and current Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris admitted that at times he and Saban had a rocky relationship during Harris’ senior year.
“I’m not the type of dude to just sit back and let somebody talk to me in a way and then not expect me to say something,” Harris said in an interview with The Pivot Podcast. “I can take coaching, but it’s a certain type of line when you cross, it’s like, ‘All right, I’m a man, you ain’t gonna talk to me like that.”
Star @steelers’ RB @najee_harris’ truth about his relationship with Nick Saban might shock you. Now with Tomlin the star back says they’re totally different except 1 thing. The main thing!@thepivothttps://t.co/JSjCy3xRLF@FredTaylorMade @OfficialCrowder @alicialauren pic.twitter.com/2HdI8X2gX7
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) August 16, 2022
It had gotten so bad that Harris left the team for two weeks at one point. However, when he returned, he and Saban had a “come to Jesus” meeting, which seemed to straighten out the issues between the two.
“He took his time out that day to really understand who I am,” Harris said. “And ever since that day, we was rock solid.”
Whatever issues Saban and Harris had off the field didn’t affect his play. The 2020 Crimson Tide ended the season winning the national championship and Harris finished fifth in the Heisman race behind teammates Devonta Smith, who won the award, and quarterback Mac Jones, who finished third.
