Sean McHugh: “After my first week in Pittsburgh my wife arrived with my son and we were eating dinner in Cranberry when James Harrison was eating there as well and stopped by our table and introduced himself to my wife and told us that if we needed anything to let him know.”
Cortez Allen: “I also used to train at the same facility as James Harrison did in the offseason in Arizona. He was always the first in the building and I’d watch him in awe. He brought everything he had all the time. Well, this day was his upper body day. He finished and then Terrell Suggs came over and was struggling to finish his set. So James walked over and took it over from him and just started lifting like it was nothing, showing Suggs up! I always had a lot of respect for James.”
Bud Dupree: “James Harrison – not verbally, but just watching him working as hard as he did, I learned a lot from him. About how he worked out and took care of his body. That was a big part of things for me. Seeing him – it was a major help. Now I do those things still to this day, every week.”
Fernando Bryant: “I remember James Harrison – the workouts and the energy he brought every day. It was always something with him!”
Brad Wing: “Also, I remember meeting James Harrison for the first time. He was a big old fella. I walked up to him and introduced myself: “Hi James, I’m Brad.” He told me that the last punter had two jobs. To punt and wash his back after every practice! I just said “What kind of soap do you like James?” He laughed and said it was the right answer! After that he and I became great friends. I joke with him still that one day I’d box his kid when he hits 30, and I may have a chance at beating him.”
Morgan Pears: “I remember my second time in NFL Europe with the Giants – I played in Germany that year. That was the only time I ever faced James Harrison. He was a maniac. That was when he was trying to make a name for himself still. He pulled out on one play and didn’t care at all where the ball was. He just wanted to knock me down. That was one of the hardest hits I ever took. He was like a bulldog – strong and fast like a smaller Casey Hampton.”
Tony Hills: “Surprisingly, me and James Harrison were pretty cool. We both enjoyed working out. And practicing versus the most dominant outside linebacker, getting my butt kicked. That helped me learn from the best.”
Casey Hampton: “He’s a cool guy. I love James. But James can be James sometimes. He can go into his things you know?. On the field I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world. But he could be unapproachable to guys sometimes…”
Kyle Jolly: “Harrison, obviously. He had no off switch. He was always rolling.”
Trevis Tuner: “James Harrison – hitting him was like hitting a pit bull Mack truck – that’s the only way I know how to describe it. Like that line in the Replacements – he’s crazy, but you’re glad he’s on your team!”
Barrett Brooks: “I remember when James Harrison first was brought in and got cut. You could tell he was good, but he got in with the wrong crowd. He didn’t work hard and took days off. He came back the next season – man, no one could block him. They all got Harrison-itis! I ended up drawing the short straw a lot and got stuck having to block him. It made me a better player.”
Brandon Torrey: “Like James Harrison who was Joey Porters back-up at one point in time, the most complete player I’ve ever played against power and speed short and low to the ground.”
Patrick Bailey: ” James Harrison was helpful – he taught me how to take care of my body.”
Cameron Stingily: “James Harrison was the funniest guy there. He was such a hard worker. Once in the middle of a meeting he screamed and got everyone’s attention, then started flexing and told everyone he needed to work on his arms today! He was a funny dude. And he’d make fun off Ben Roethlisberger – said he looked just like Will Ferrell – and he did!”
Antwaan Randel El: “Harrison was always a character – his style. The way he is now is the way he was as a rookie. When he came in, he was just running into stuff and yelling, telling everyone how crazy he was. We’d be talking to him and in the middle of the conversation he’d just say “Forget it – let’s just knock those guys out!” I was like, what? He kept that angry look on his face all the time too. You could never tell if he was serious or not.”
Eli Joseph: “James Harrison never really talked to me – not in a bad way – he just never had much to say. But I remember all going out after a hockey game and his only words ever to me were ‘Eli, you better take this shot!” I didn’t even know he knew my name.”
John Clay: “One play I had to run a crack block on James Harrison. Obviously in practice the defense knows the play and what’s coming. James was waiting for me – I was able to get to him, but he was shorter than me. He got his shoulder underneath me and laid into me and cut me under my chin. I still have that scar!”
Mortty Ivy: “But as a Steeler, that would be James Harrison and Lawrence Timmons – they were great role models and taught me how to play in a 3-4 defense.”
Security Guard Zach Kenly: The last one is the year I worked near the hot tub and James Harrison jumped in the cold tub. He was freezing and called over to me – “Hey you. Can you grab me a towel?” He put it on after and told me “Hey – I appreciate you!” I’m not sure how many people he’s said that to!
Jeremy Parquet: “James Harrison is an absolute beast!! He was hard to get a gauge on because of his body type and strength combined. He is probably the best defender I’ve ever faced.”
Daniel Sepulveda: “Oh – and the run-ins with James Harrison. I used to play ping pong all the time with Tyler Grisham. The table was right by James’ locker. Well every time a stray ball landed near his locker and he was there, he would squash it. Just because. He had to keep up his bad guy persona! He had no choice – that was who he was!”
Rian Wallace: “Harrison pulled me to the side and tried to show me how to be a better special teams player.”
Jamon Meredith: “James Harrison was rough. He was so short he could get up under you and rip that arm. Thank God I didn’t have to play against him a lot or I would have been cut sooner!”
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
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