Another year, another Baltimore Ravens linebacker decides to cross enemy lines and join the team in yellow. First it was Patrick Queen, now it’s Malik Harrison. The former third-round pick just signed a two-year, $10 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it didn’t take long for him to start saying things he probably shouldn’t.
Harrison spent four years in Baltimore as a steady, if unspectacular, rotational piece. He played all over the second level, contributed on special teams, and did everything the team asked of him. Solid depth guy. But not a star. Not a headline-maker. Not the kind of player who should be poking bears, especially this early.
And yet, here we are. Harrison got a mic in front of him and wasted no time firing off a take that’s so outrageous, it’s already making the rounds.
Malik Harrison clearly lives in make-pretend world
Here’s what Harrison said when asked about stopping Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in 2025:
“In practice, you can’t do too much because you don’t wanna mess with the church money. Now being on the other side, I can really just unleash and dominate how I know I can do.”
This man really implied he was holding back on Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry the entire time—you know, just out of respect. But now that he’s with Pittsburgh, he’s suddenly about to dominate? Pitt’s PR team would probably like to have that one back.
It’s a bold statement coming from someone who was essentially a glorified special teams player and depth piece. Harrison was a role player in Baltimore. He wasn’t shutting down any quarterback for any team, let alone someone of Jackson’s caliber. He was playing his part in a defense led by All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith, who just so happens to make just about everyone look better playing alongside him.
And let’s not forget Marlon Humphrey’s reaction to Harrison’s Steelers deal: “It’s 31 other teams and you pick the yellow team… screw you.” There’s no love lost here.
Harrison can talk tough now, but it’s giving Queen leaving Baltimore last year vibes. If he thinks switching teams is going to unlock a dominant version of himself, great. But if he thinks taking shots at Jackson and Henry is the way to announce it? Good luck with that. Henry’s put defenders through Earth for just getting in the way, imagine what’s going to happen to Harrison after this.
There are levels to this. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are arguably the best players at their positions and top five talents in the league. Harrison might be the Steelers’ fifth-best linebacker. There’s confidence, and then there’s delusion. Maybe don’t say things you can’t back up next time.
As if losing to the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs wasn’t enough to fuel a revenge tour, here comes Harrison, gift-wrapping bulletin board material before training camp even starts. This rivalry was already personal. Now? It just got even better.
