Mike Tomlin explains why Steelers named Jaylen Warren as starter over Najee Harris for Week 10
For the first time in his NFL career, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren was announced as the team’s starter on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Warren, who typically serves as the backup to starter Najee Harris, actually heard his name called first at the direction of head coach Mike Tomlin.
The move wasn’t a complete surprise since Tomlin tipped the former Oklahoma State star off a couple of nights before. It gave him the opportunity to come up with an appropriate gesture to commemorate his first start.
“He did kind of mention the night before that whatever had transpired throughout the team, he was saying that he was going to announce me and that I’m deserving of it,” Warren said on Tuesday.
Warren came out of the tunnel and executed a spot-on impression of a surfer as a nod to his Polynesian heritage. The team shared a clip of the pre-game celebration in honor of “Victory Monday.”
Though Warren was technically the starting running back on Sunday, he shared an equal load with Harris in the 23-19 win. He posted 101 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries while Harris had 16 carries for 82 yards and a score.
The Steelers will continue to feature Warren and his counterpart heavily in the offense but the honor of being announced with the starters in their home stadium was a sentimental gesture that Tomlin felt appropriate given the second-year back’s recent streak.
“You guys ask me about him every week. You guys see the consistency,” Tomlin said.
Warren posts breakout performance vs Green Bay Packers
Last week, Warren had 11 carries and used them to the fullest, racking up 88 yards in the win over the Titans. So far this season, the former Pokes star has 71 carries, 364 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, 31 receptions and an additional 218 yards receiving. He has also fumbled the ball once.
Last season for the Steelers, he had 77 carries for 379 yards and one touchdown. He has nearly surpassed that mark through nine games this season.
The Steelers picked the running back up as an undrafted free agent and inked him to a three-year deal for $2.57 million. Warren played one season with Oklahoma State after transferring from Utah State. In 2021, he posted 1,216 yards on 256 rushing attempts with 11 touchdowns.
Najee Harris has 464 yards on 116 carries so far this season. He also has three rushing touchdowns, as well as 18 receptions for 115 yards.