James Harrison all smiles as he joins Aaron Smith, Gerry Mullins, Ray Mansfield in Steelers’ Hall of Honor
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James Harrison gave the menacing scowl that was a trademark from his playing days.
A reporter had the nerve Sunday to ask the former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker if he was expecting to be inducted into the franchise’s Hall of Honor so soon after his playing career had concluded. Harrison’s last down was played just six years ago.
“I expected to get it sooner,” Harrison said, glaring at the questioner, “but OK.”
Harrison then flashed a smile he rarely displayed to the media during his playing days.
“No, I’m just playing with you.”
Harrison joined former teammate Aaron Smith, four-time Super Bowl winning guard Gerry Mullins and the late Ray Mansfield, a center on the franchise’s first two Super Bowl teams, as Hall of Honor members recognized at halftime of the Steelers’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
At a pregame photo opportunity and media session, Harrison was accompanied by his two sons. He estimated he had 40 family members in attendance Saturday at the Hall of Honor dinner.
“It’s a tremendous honor,” said Harrison, the team’s career sacks leader until T.J. Watt surpassed it earlier this season. “It solidifies that they see me as a Steeler.”
Despite being released late in the 2017 season and finishing his career with the New England Patriots, Harrison has remained close to his former teammates. He attended a Super Bowl XLIII reunion a year after his release and since then has repaired any fences that needed mending because of his departure. He received a strong ovation from the fans when he led the ceremonial Terrible Towel twirl.
“I’ve been around this group of guys since I got done playing,” he said. “I’ve been here. The only thing you really miss is before the game, the locker room antics, stuff like that.”
Author of the greatest defensive play in Super Bowl history — his 100-yard interception return before halftime of Super Bowl XLIII against Arizona — Harrison had a dominating five-year run with the Steelers. Starting in 2007, when he became a first-time starter at age 29, he was named to the Pro Bowl five years in a row. He was an All-Pro selection twice in that span as well as an NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Those credentials have placed Harrison on the Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot twice.
“This is, of course, a step in that direction,” Harrison said. “I don’t know. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t.”
Harrison, though, gave a glowing endorsement for Smith’s candidacy. Smith spent his entire 13-year career with the Steelers. He was named to the Pro Bowl once and was a member of Sports Illustrated’s all-decade team for the 2000s. He also started 152 of 160 games.
“He’s a tremendous talent,” Harrison said. “I believe he’s a guy who actually should be in the Hall of Fame. … You can’t say enough good things about the guy.”
Mansfield played for the Steelers from 1964-76 and preceded Hall of Famer Mike Webster at center. Mansfield started in the pivot for Super Bowls IX-X. He died in 1996 while hiking the Grand Canyon and was represented at the weekend festivities by multiple family members.
Mullins joined the Steelers in 1971 and ended his career with them following the 1979 season when he said he retired rather than accept a trade to the Cleveland Browns.
“I wanted to be a Steeler for life,” he said.
Mullins became the final member of the Steelers starting offensive line from Super Bowl XIV to be included in the Hall of Honor. He was preceded by Webster, guard Sam Davis and tackles Jon Kolb and Larry Brown.
“I never really believed I’d ever get here, to be honest with you,” Mullins said. “This is a very special group of guys that will be around for as long as there is a Steelers organization. It sort of immortalizes you. I played with a lot of great players, and it’s wonderful to know you’re going to be standing by their side as long as there are the Steelers.”