James Harrison voted most “badass” player in the NFL

“Tell me something I didn’t already know.”

That’s my response to an article published earlier today by Tampa Bay Times Staff Writer Greg Auman. Auman, who covers the Buccaneers, quite literally took Bucs head coach Dirk Koetter’s statement for a more “badass” defense to heart, as he informally polled 43 NFL writers to ask them who the most “badass” player in the league is.

To Auman’s surprise, those polled passed on three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt, and Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch.

Those two tied for second in our informal media poll, losing out to 39-year-old Steelers linebacker James Harrison, who has built a reputation both on the field — remember that 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Super Bowl in Tampa in 2009 — and off.

However, the 39-year-old Harrison topped the list, followed by both Watt and Lynch tying for second place. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review writer Joe Rutter added his two cents in the article:

[The] ageless linebacker posted video of workout at 5:10 a.m. on Jan. 16, just an hour after team got home following playoff win in Kansas City.

And that’s all you need to know about Harrison, who set the standard as the Steelers all-time sacks leader in 2016, three years after he was ready to retire. After being convinced to return to help aid a an injury-ravaged Pittsburgh linebackers unit, the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year continued on with the team, actually improving with age in a limited, and often times rotational role with the Steelers defense.

In order to keep himself in, what he feels, is optimal playing condition, Harrison endures grueling workout sessions, sometimes immediately following a game (as Rutter pointed out above). His Instagram looks like a motivational workout series produced for home video but showcases the hard work Harrison puts in to be an all-natural athlete still at the top of his game as his approaches his 40’s.

Here’s just a sample of Harrison’s workouts over the last few days.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWxfv-QAcZk/?taken-by=jhharrison92

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWxanAZgS3p/?taken-by=jhharrison92

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWz4g4tAvA2/?taken-by=jhharrison92

That was enough for NFL Writer Eric Edholm to add:

No badass list is complete — or should begin anywhere else other than with — James Harrison… Dude has lava coursing through his veins; nothing else can explain his ogre strength or infinite pain threshold.

And that’s what we Steelers fans have always known for the better part of a decade: that James Harrison is the most badass player, and possibly man, on planet Earth.