After a standout 16-year career in the NFL, James Harrison left a legacy defined by two Super Bowls and four All-Pro selections. While his linebacker skills were top-tier, his imposing 6-foot frame and sheer size set him apart, making him a force to be reckoned with on the field. And any discussion on his career, even now, a good seven years after his retirement, would invariably touch on his physical attributes.
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On The Pivot podcast, former Pittsburgh Steelers star Ryan Clark sat down with Harrison to discuss the intricacies of the powerhouse linebacker’s career. After arriving in a comedically casual attire, Harrison immediately began fielding questions about his weight.
After acknowledging that he had lost some weight recently, Harrison said that he currently weighs around 270 pounds. Naturally, Clark felt obligated to ask him what was the most that he ever weighed. Harrison replied, shedding light on a difficult period he endured.
“308 [pounds]. I was depressed. I had my knee surgery (in 2012), and I couldn’t move for six weeks… I was eating bruh. My son called me fat, it was bad. I went to tie my shoe, and my stomach got in the way,” revealed Harrison.
Harrison maintained an approximate weight of 242 pounds throughout his professional career. And 308 was way above that. However, his words raise concerns over something more pertinent.
It brings to the fore the lack of support and the state of former players’ mental health following their exit from the league.
Unfortunately, Harrison’s struggle is not a unique one. Former Green Bay Packers running back, Eddie Lacy, infamously struggled with maintaining a healthy weight, especially after undergoing surgery on his ankle. The issue became so severe that, upon signing with the Seattle Seahawks, Lacy was given incentives to meet his weight goals.
Despite standing to gain $55,000 every time he reached a benchmark weight, he faltered. Under the impression that the weigh-ins would remain private, with only team doctors and Seahawks staffers being in the know, Lacy was gutted to find out that his initial results were released to the public within 20 minutes of his first weigh-in.
There is also a history of NFL players gaining weight towards the end of their careers or following their retirement, suggesting that it is a common problem. While the NFL Players Association does provide retired players with up to eight face-to-face counseling sessions per year, given the historical precedent of this issue, there is clearly room for improvement.
Harrison’s struggle attests to the need for better interventions. And to think of it, the linebacker was one of the most feared players of his era, seemingly above any possibility of developing body-positivity issues.
Channing Crowder struggles with Harrison’s unique fear factor
Meanwhile, The Pivot co-host and former Miami Dolphin, Channing Crowder, couldn’t help but call out Harrison for his intimidating demeanor. From his mass to the tone of Harrison’s voice, Crowder struggles with fear every time he’s around Harrison.
Crowder insisted Harrison was one of the scariest men he ever met. After a point, Harrison couldn’t take it anymore. As Crowder continued to downplay his pleasantness, the 2008 Player of the Year snapped. “So, you just sit here and lie all day?”
Crowder defended himself, exclaiming, “I’m not lying! Bruh, you are intimidating! I ain’t no little dude.”
The truth is that most people would be terrified by the Steelers legend who has been documented as having pushed nearly 2,000 pounds of weight on a sled.
Harrison may have missed out on the opportunity to become a first-ballot Hall of Famer this year, but there will undoubtedly be a place reserved for him amongst Canton, Ohio’s finest in the near future.
