The Pittsburgh Steelers saw some of their best production in quite some time coming from two different running backs in 2023. With Jaylen Warren stepping up to take an even bigger role in the offense than in his rookie season, the Steelers had 1,819 combined rushing yards in the regular season from there two top running backs. In fact, both players appeared in every game and no other running back received rushing attempts last season.

But where did the two running backs stand historically when it came to the top duos in the backfield in Pittsburgh Steelers history?

This was one of the questions I was posed in the most recent episode of the Steelers Stat Geek podcast. To look at production coming from two different players spread somewhat equally, I placed the requirement of a running back meeting at least 750 rushing yards during the season. When looking at this number, Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren became the sixth Steelers running back pair to have two players eclipse this mark during the season.

Two running backs over 750 yards rushing:

2023: Najee Harris* & Jaylen Warren, 1,819 total yards
2004: Jerome Betis & Deuce Staley, 1,771 total yards
1994: Barry Foster & Bam Morris, 1,687 total yards
1986: Earnest Jackson & Walter Abercrombie, 1,787 total yards
1985: Frank Pollard & Walter Abercrombie, 1,842 total yards
1976: Franco Harris* & Rocky Bleier*, 2,374

*rushed for more than 1,000 yards

It has been almost 20 years since the Steelers had two running backs with this kind of production as the last time two rushers each ran for 750 rushing yards was in 2004 with Jerome Bettis and Deuce Staley. When that pair managed to do so, it has been 10 years since the Steelers had accomplished this feat.

As seen in the list above, the Steelers have never had a running back duo, or at least one with the same two players, do so in back-to-back seasons. Although Walter Abercrombie was the second-leading rusher on the team when both players went over 750 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons in the mid 80s, it was with a different rushing partner.

But as most Steelers fans recognize, the standard of success of two running backs on the same team in Pittsburgh Steelers history was established with Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier in 1976. During this historic season, the Steelers defense helped create an unprecedented streak of nine straight wins to close out the regular season, five of which were shutouts. What many believed to be the greatest Steelers team to not win the Super Bowl, the Steelers fell short of reaching the big game as they were defeated in the Conference Championship game, largely in part to both Harris and Bleier missing the game due to injury.

But how did Harris and Blier follow up their historic rushing season?

In 1977, Franco Harris saw very similar stats compared to the previous year. Harris’ attempts increased from 289 to 319 as well as rushing yards from 1,128 to 1,162. But where things changed came with how much the Steelers used Rocky Bleier. Seeing 85 less carries, Bleier’s yardage fell from 1,036 yards in 1976 to only 465 yards in 1977.

When it comes to Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, Najee Harris is the only other player on the list of running back duos to each rush for 750 yards who reached the 1,000-yard mark. While this is impressive, it also has to be understood that Warren and Harris have a 17th regular season game compared to those others dating back through 1978. The fact Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier only had a 14-game regular season just makes their performance in 1976 even more impressive.

One of the main benefits of having Jaylen Warren coming through for such production has been the reduction of the workload for Najee Harris. From his rookie season in 2021 to last year, Harris saw a reduction of 52 rushing attempts in the regular season and 97 total touches when factoring in receptions. By doing so, Harris became a more productive back in 2023 as he had his first season where his yards per attempt was higher than 4.0 YPC.

So can the Steelers see a repeat from Warren and Harris in 2024?

The most important factor to see the production of both players has to do with their availability. If both running backs can stay healthy and available, the likelihood increases greatly. So far in their combined five NFL seasons, they have a combined total of only one game missed as Jaylen Warren was unavailable for one game his rookie season.

Another factor which is likely important with the growing numbers of these two players is the efficiency with which Jaylen Warren carries the football. With a 5.1 yards per attempt average for his career, Warren had 5.3 yards per attempt when rushing the football in 2023.

Whether or not Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren can have a repeat of their dual success in 2024 remains to be seen. While it would be the first time in Steelers history that the same two players rushed for more than 750 yards each in back-to-back seasons, reaching the specific rushing numbers are not the ultimate goal. If the Pittsburgh Steelers have a productive offense and are winning football games, the individual milestones, even when looking at it as two players combined, are not the ultimate measuring stick for success.