James Harrison Re-Signs with Steelers: Latest Contract Details and Reaction

At this time last year, James Harrison was preparing to ride off into the sunset. Fast-forward through a comeback and return to form, and the 36-year-old linebacker has decided to extend his career once again. 

Harrison and the Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to a two-year contract on Sunday, the team announced.

Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the deal is worth $2.75 million, including a $500,000 signing bonus.

Harrison briefly stepped away from football before last season but was coaxed out of retirement when a rash of injuries opened up a spot on the Steelers depth chart. He responded with a fine overall season, recording 47 tackles and 5.5 sacks in 11 games. Initially used as a situational pass-rusher, Harrison moved into the starting lineup for the Steelers' final four contests.

While some expected him to retire again, Harrison indicated in February he was training for a 2015 return. 

"I decided to hold off on retirement, so it's time to pack up and head to AZ to start my training so I can be ready to play another year!" Harrison wrote on Instagram.

Where Harrison would return ultimately became a big question. The Steelers came into free agency severely lacking in veteran help at the linebacker spots, and that, along with Harrison's comfort in Pittsburgh, were expected to play huge roles. After years of manning the right outside spot for the Steelers, Harrison had a nightmarish one-season stint in Cincinnati that influenced his initial retirement.

There were also some inklings Harrison would be interested in joining former Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau in Tennessee. LeBeau, who mutually parted ways with Pittsburgh this offseason, is a special assistant to head coach Ken Whisenhunt.

With Harrison deciding to re-sign with Pittsburgh, it's clear he's prioritizing the best opportunity possible.

As for whether Harrison can still be effective, the underlying numbers are promising. Pro Football Focus ranked Harrison fifth among 3-4 outside linebackers in its pass-rushing productivity metric, putting him ahead of a number of All-Pros and Pro Bowlers. He was also among the league's best run-stoppers at his position, ranking first in PFF's run-stop percentage and 14th in tackling efficiency.

Had he received more snaps and kept up that level of play, it's possible Harrison could've been considered the best player at his position in 2014. Of course, it's fair to wonder if part of his rejuvenation was due to limited snaps. Players his age, even ones in his impeccable condition, cannot hold up playing three downs for 16 NFL games. In fact, Harrison missed time in 2014 with a knee injury.

That said, if Pittsburgh can avoid relying on Harrison too much, he has proved he can still make plays at a high level.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.