Steelers GM Omar Khan on NFL running back pay debate: 'You don't have to be a mathematician to figure it out'

By now, football fans have heard or seen the angry opinions of NFL running backs who believe the league’s cost structure is working against them.

Third-year Pittsburgh Steeler Najee Harris is one of those grumbling. The franchise has to determine if they are going to keep Harris through his fifth-year option after this season.

While Harris expressed satisfaction with being in Pittsburgh, he’s far from satisfied with the state of contracts for players at his position.

“You know what you’re trying to do,’” Harris said of NFL front offices. “‘You’re trying to utilize us as much as you can get, as much as you can out of us for cheap.’ And then, they’ll get another (younger) back and try to do the same thing again. That’s the trend that is happening right now.”

On Thursday, Steelers general manager Omar Khan made his opinions on the topic known. And it sounds like he is putting the blame at the feet of NFL quarterback salaries.

“You don’t have to be a mathematician to figure it out, but when quarterbacks’ salaries start increasing at the rate that they’re increasing, at some point, it’s going to have a residual effect somewhere on the roster,” Khan said.

For most teams, that appears to be skimping on paying running backs.

“Every franchise is going to handle things differently. It’s up to every franchise to decide how to build their roster, but eventually, that’s going to have an effect when the quarterback salaries are growing at a rate higher than what the cap is. I get it. There are ways to get around whatever the cap number is, but it’s just going to be a natural effect,” Khan said.

More sports

• Rod Woodson shares advice for young Steelers corners, reflects on memories at Saint Vincent College
• Pirates trade 1st baseman Carlos Santana to Milwaukee for 18-year-old prospect
• After 1st offseason overseeing assembly of roster, Steelers GM Omar Khan optimistic

That’s not exactly a forecast that the Steelers plan to go rogue and pay Harris a whopping sum before his contract ends, just for the sake of doing things differently from the rest of the league.

No matter how much the Steelers value the running game.

“I have not talked to Najee specifically about that. We talk all the time. I see him every day,” Khan said. “We just have a normal conversation like always. We’re all family in this organization. But have not talked to him specifically about that. … He’s a great Steeler. He’s a great person, a great teammate. He’s great in our building.”

But there was nothing in there about reshuffling the deck for Harris before his contract expires after the 2025 season.

Khan also avoided offering up any potential solutions that the league may come up with to get running backs a little extra cash around the current parameters of the collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA expires in 2030.

“You’re (accounting for) 30% of their offense, and then when you want something that’s long-term to just have some type of security,” Harris explained.

That may be what he and other running backs want, but they don’t appear likely to get it.