The Steelers signed James Harrison today to a 6-year, $51.75 million contract with $20 million in guarantees, making him the highest paid linebacker in league history.
This was a deal that needed to get done. Harrison was going to be a free agent next spring and, coming off of a Defensive Player of the Year season, we knew he was going to command some big bucks. In two seasons, he has 24.5 sacks. He led the league in forced fumbles with 7 last season. Not only does he get to the quarterback consistently, he creates turnovers. Let’s not forget the interception in the San Diego game at the end of the first half when the Chargers were driving. Or the interception in the Super Bowl. With this signing, the Steelers have ensured that they will have the best outside linebacker tandem in the league for a long time. As Woodley continues to grow into his own, teams will no longer be able to double-team Harrison, and will have to choose which of these two beasts they want to double-team. The other one is almost surely going to get there.
Woodley and Harrison shattered the Steelers single-season record for sacks by a linebacker duo (previously 24 by Kevin Greene and Greg Lloyd) with 27.5 sacks last season. The scary thing is, these two are only going to get better. I know the Steelers have had some great linebackers throughout their history, but Woodley and Harrison have the chance, if they can sustain this level of production, to go down as the greatest linebacker duo in Steelers history.
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