On the heels of finishing behind their biggest rival in the standings each of the past three seasons, the Pittsburgh Steelers have increasingly adopted a strategy.
If you can’t beat ‘em, have ‘em join you.
At least when it comes to defensive players from the Baltimore Ravens, that is.
Malik Harrison became the fifth former Ravens linebacker or defensive back to sign with the Steelers over the past 14 months. Harrison, a 6-foot-3, 259-pound linebacker who can play off the edge or in the box, agreed to a two-year, $10 million contract this week.
He said that all of his five seasons of prior NFL experience being with the Ravens is no coincidence.
“I’m pretty sure that’s one of the main reasons why I’m here,” Harrison said Thursday during an introductory news conference at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.
Harrison joins every-down inside linebacker Patrick Queen, strong safety DeShon Elliott, reserve outside linebacker Jeremiah Moon and since-cut cornerback Anthony Averett as former Baltimore defensive players signed by the Steelers since January 2024.
Queen openly had embraced the intense rivalry against the Steelers when he was on the other side. Elliott has dived in from both sides of it, too.
“The five years I was (in Baltimore), I had a great time,” Harrison said, “but, you know, I’m turning a new chapter and I’m with the Steelers.”
New Steelers signee Malik Harrison on how he can play both OLB and ILB pic.twitter.com/rgU66Xp79S
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) March 13, 2025
Harrison switches allegiances armed with a versatile resume that includes work as a “core” special teamer as well as about a quarter of the Baltimore defensive snaps since he was a third-round pick in 2020.
As a rookie and in his second season, according to Pro Football Focus data, Harrison primarily was an inside linebacker. In 2022 he began to transition to the edge and in 2023 he was almost exclusively lining up on the outside while on defense. Last season, Harrison’s defense play-time split was 55/45 inside to out.
“I can play both. I showed that in Baltimore,” Harrison said. “So either way, I’m fine with playing anything. Whatever makes the team better.”
The Steelers’ have a trio of starter-caliber outside linebackers: T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, as well as Moon. Queen and Payton Wilson are starters on the inside with former starter Cole Holcomb still trying to return to play after a serious knee injury suffered in November 2023.
