James Harrison gained’t dispute his playground in Steelers historical past as he prepares to be inducted into the franchise’s Corridor of Honor. However on the subject of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Popularity, Harrison feels his profession doesn’t slightly measure up. 

The previous Steelers’ cross rusher doesn’t really feel he’s decent of a gold jacket in spite of a profession that integrated two Tremendous Bowl wins, 5 instantly Professional Bowl choices, two All-Professional nods and a Defensive Participant of the Presen award in 2008. Harrison additionally authored one of the memorable performs in NFL historical past: a 100-yard pick-six throughout Pittsburgh’s win over Arizona in Tremendous Bowl XLIII. 

“It’s a numbers thing,” Harrison recently said on former teammate Cam Heyward’s “Not Just Football” podcast. “I understand accolades and everything and the impact and all, but another part of it is numbers. And when you look at numbers, the numbers do not equate to what Hall of Fame numbers should look like.”

Harrison has some degree. Pace he was once a dominant participant in his heyday, Harrison’s profession sack overall doesn’t examine with cross rushers who’re within the Corridor of Popularity. Harrison’s 84.5 profession sacks are tie for the one centesimal maximum in NFL historical past. To check, former Patriots standout Andre Tippett’s 100 sacks are the fewest by way of a linebacker lately inducted in Canton, Ohio. 

Harrison’s profession overall swells to 95.5 sacks whilst you upload in his 11 sacks within the postseason, which is tie for the sixth-most in playoff historical past. And whilst you upload in Harrison’s alternative accomplishments, you’ll nonetheless put together a case that Harrison’s profession a minimum of merits attention for the Corridor.

A past due get started is the principle reason Harrison’s profession sack overall isn’t upper. Then no longer getting drafted in 2002, Harrison (who performed faculty soccer at Kent Atmosphere and if truth be told had 4 sacks in a tournament towards then-Miami Redhawks quarterback Ben Roethlisberger) didn’t stick at the Steelers’ roster till 2004 and didn’t change into a starter till 2007, when he was once 29 years used. 

In spite of his past due get started, Harrison ended his profession with Pittsburgh because the franchise’s profession sack chief, a file that stood till T.J. Watt surpassed his tally in Life 2 of the 2023 season. 

Heyward, who is two.5 sacks clear of passing Harrison at the Steelers’ profession checklist, made that argument life reminding Harrison of his game-changing play games towards the Cardinals that helped Pittsburgh seize the franchise’s 6th Lombardi Trophy. 

“I understand what you’re saying,” Harrison stated. “But I’m saying, on pure numbers, it’s not there. It’s only 80-something sacks, you know what I’m saying? You’re looking at a base of at least triple digits before you’re able to put yourself in that group of elite pass rushers.” 

Pace being inducted into the Corridor of Popularity could be “pretty cool,” Harrison stated his induction q4 into the Steelers’ Corridor of Honor is a important success in its personal proper. 

“To be put in a group of guys that are in that company right now, that Hall of Honor, you know, that’s a tremendous, tremendous honor,” Harrison lately advised TMZ Sports activities, by the use of the Tribune-Assessment. “There’s legends, you know, (the) Steel Curtain, Joe Greene, guys like that. It’s great company. (If) I wouldn’t get into the Hall of Fame, I’m in the Steelers Hall of Fame. That’s good enough for me.”