Giants release Najee Harris two days after he criticized coaching staff's running game plan

The New York Giants may still be searching for their feature back, but they appear to know who won't fill the role.

Two days after criticizing the coaching staff's game plan following a four-carry, two-yard performance, the G-Men released Najee Harris.

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Harris, a training camp pickup following struggles by Tyrone Tracy, got the start on Sunday, as Cam Skattebo was all but benched after another fumble, perhaps this one the most costly, last week. Skattebo was on the field for just six snaps and did not touch the ball.

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Najee Harris No. 23 of the New York Giants gets set during the second quarter of an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on Sept. 21, 2026, in Inglewood, California. (Getty Images)

The Giants used a three-running-back rotation of Harris, Tracy and Devin Singletary, yet their top two leading rushers were quarterback JJ McCarthy (26 yards) and wide receiver Darnell Mooney (20). As John Harbaugh put it after Sunday's loss, "Nobody's really taken the bull by the horns."

Well, Harris said it was difficult for him and the other backs to get into a rhythm.

"I don't think nobody can," Harris said, via the New York Daily News. "And this is not to anything that's the coaching staff or anything. This is just personal, running backs, quarterbacks. It's hard to get in a rhythm with one or two plays.

Najee Harris No. 23 of the New York Giants carries the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at MetLife Stadium on Sept. 27, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

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"The first couple runs will be, 'OK, how are they playing me?' The next one is gonna be, 'OK, this is how you attack it.' But if you're getting a play here and get taken out four series, there's nothing you can do. I don't know. I've never been through this before."

Harris has 99 rushing yards on 31 carries (3.2 yards per carry), a far cry from his four straight 1,000-yard seasons to open up his NFL career, which began just five years ago.

Harris was a first-round pick out of Alabama and was the Pittsburgh Steelers' bell cow but left after four seasons. He joined the Los Angeles Chargers, but injuries kept him out for almost the entire season.

Giants running backs are averaging just 3.4 yards per carry this season, with Skattebo barely leading the way at 3.6. Out of his 294 rushing yards, 81 of them came against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1. He followed up with 36, 60, 58, and 59.

Najee Harris, No. 23 of the New York Giants, carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the fourth quarter at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Oct. 4, 2026. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Harbaugh is patiently waiting to see who will take the bull by the horns, but one thing is for certain — it won't be Harris. New York will go to Houston to take on the suddenly-hot Texans before their Week 8 bye.