Najee Harris discusses Nick Saban and Mike Tomlin’s differences, similarity they share
By Andrew Olson
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Najee Harris is, unsurprisingly, experiencing a different style of coaching in the NFL than he did at Alabama.
Harris is heading into his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Steelers, turned 50 in March. Nick Saban turns 71 in October.
Rich Eisen was interested in hearing about the differences between the 2 from Harris. The former Crimson Tide standout noted those differences, while also pointing out a lone similarity.
“Saban is strictly business,” Harris said Wednesday on The Rich Eisen Show. “No matter what — strictly business. And it’s cool. That’s his way of coaching, and he wins. He finds a way to win. He does that. Mike T, he gets to know you more. He’s, like, more, let’s say, of a people’s person. He will come in the locker room and crack jokes. He’ll go on live and do some stuff. And then he finds a way of winning, too.
“That’s the only similarity they have. They have a knack of winning. But how they win and their formula, it’s completely different. But they do know how to win, I’ll tell you that much.”
Though Harris initially labeled Saban “strictly business,” he acknowledged the coach’s sense of humor (which has made its share of headlines over the years).
“Saban, obviously, he do be saying some good jokes,” Harris said.
As one would expect, the age difference shows again when it comes to the jokes being made during practice.
“But he’s just so damn old, no disrespect to him,” Harris said of Saban. “He’ll be saying like, ‘Oh, you’re softer than a baby’s ass.’ I’ll be like, ‘Bro, what is that? I don’t even know what the hell that even means. But, hey, Coach, whatever, though’ You know what I mean? ‘Like, cool, cool.’ But Saban has his moments. He has his moments. I’ll say that about him. He has his moments. He’s a funny-ass dude.”
Harris appears to be more familiar with Tomlin’s material.
“Tomlin’s actually funny,” Harris said. “I guess he’s more hip. There’s a big age difference, I’ll say, so he’s a little bit more newer-school with the jokes. It’s not some old stuff that Saban be saying.”
More from Harris on The Rich Eisen Show can be heard on YouTube.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
