Jim Harbaugh tried to get Antioch High School star Najee Harris to come from California to Michigan to play college football. Instead, the running back went to Alabama.
But in 2025, Harris will play for Harbaugh with the Los Angeles Chargers, who signed the former Crimson Tide All-American as an NFL free agent on Friday.
“I remember, I think it was my senior year, he came back,” Harris said of his recruitment by Harbaugh. “They was calling out the homecoming queen. I think he wanted to call the homecoming queen, so he took the mic in front of everybody and called out the homecoming queen. And I just looked back, and I was just like, ‘What the heck?’ You know what I mean? This dude’s calling out — he’s doing everything. But that’s just how much of a down-to-earth, cool guy he is. So that was my last thing I remember him doing. That was crazy.”
During an introductory press conference on Friday, Harris said Harbaugh’s homecoming involvement didn’t score any points for the Wolverines in his recruitment.
“I was kind of clueless of why he did that,” Harris said. “That’s why I’m saying it: I don’t know why. It didn’t help out at all. You know what I mean? Obviously, I went to Alabama.”
With the Crimson Tide, Harris played for two CFP national-championship teams and became Alabama’s career rushing leader with 3,843 yards. As a unanimous All-American and the Doak Walker Award winner for the Tide’s undefeated 2020 team, Harris set the SEC single-season record for points with 180, and he closed his career tied with Florida quarterback Tim Tebow for the most touchdowns in league history with 57.
“It was either Michigan or Alabama,” Harris said. “There was a flight booked for me for Alabama, and a flight booked for me for Michigan. And we were just talking about this actually yesterday, which is funny. But I didn’t make my decision until the last, last day after the Army All-American game. I think I was in Texas; I think that’s where I was at. And then, yeah, there was two flights booked for me — one to Alabama, one to Michigan. I ain’t telling either school which one I was going to. And then I was with my roommate. And then he was just like, ‘Hey man, just get on this flight with me.’ And I just got on the flight with him. And then I just called Alabama. I was like, ‘Hey, I’m at the airport.’”
After Alabama, Harris entered the NFL as a first-round selection of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021. With the Steelers, Harris ran for 4,312 yards and 28 touchdowns on 1,097 carries and caught 180 passes for 1,149 yards and six touchdowns while starting every game for four seasons.
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Harris joined the Chargers for a one-year contract that includes a $1.5 million salary and a $3.75 million signing bonus. The deal also features $4 million in incentives.
Harbaugh returned to the NFL last year after nine seasons as Michigan’s coach.
“He’s the same guy,” Harris said of Harbaugh. “Even yesterday, sat down, was chopping it up, went out to eat, to dinner. He’s the same guy, man. He always was energetic. Man, he’s always a life of the party, so he’s just a good guy to be around. He’s down to earth, and he makes you feel comfortable.”
Even before being recruited by Harbaugh, Harris was familiar with the coach. Growing up in the San Francisco area, Harris followed the 49ers when Harbaugh coached the team from 2011 through 2014.
“It was a full circle exactly,” Harris said of joining Harbaugh with the Chargers. “My circle, my family was telling me that, too. It was like: How crazy that is to first meet him in high school. Well, first, we’d seen him coaching for the Niners. Then you met him in high school. Then after that, I mean, now you’re playing for him. It is full circle.”
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
