James Harrison Says He Has No Problem with Steelers After Retiring

James Harrison's time with the Pittsburgh Steelers may not have ended the way he had hoped, but there's no bad blood on his end. 

The 39-year-old announced his retirement on Monday after 15 seasons in the NFL:

He spent 13-plus years in Pittsburgh.

Last year, Pittsburgh released Harrison in the middle of the season, only to watch him sign with the archrival New England Patriots. His choice of team didn't sit well with Steeler Nation and his former teammates delivered some parting shots. Through it all, though, that didn't sour his feelings.

"I have no problem with the Steelers family," Harrison told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday. "I have no problem with the Rooneys. They made a business decision that was best for their organization. I made a business decision that was best for me and family at the time. We went our separate ways.

"Fans get mad because they’re stuck with a team, one team, that’s their team. At the end of the day, it’s a business. Yes, you have loyalties to teams, but when it comes down to it, it’s a job, and when your job fires you, you need to find another job."

It appears the organization has put the past in the past:

"

A message from #Steelers President Art Rooney II to @jharrison9292: pic.twitter.com/A9JS8oQxKx

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) April 16, 2018"

Harrison signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent out of Kent State in 2002. However, he couldn't stick with the team and wound up with the Baltimore Ravens before ultimately finding his way back to Pittsburgh. He finally managed to secure a roster spot and played for the team from 2004-12.

He briefly retired but wound up playing for the rival Cincinnati Bengals in 2013. While that may have rubbed some people the wrong way in the Steel City, he made things right by returning home to seemingly play out the rest of his career—until he was let go last season.

During his time as a Steeler, the linebacker made five Pro Bowls, was named the 2008 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and won two Super Bowls.

All of those accolades would figure to be enough to keep him in Steelers lore forever. However, of all the teams to sign with, the Patriots were the worst possible destination in the minds of Pittsburgh fans. 

New England ultimately went on to play in the Super Bowl, while Pittsburgh lost in the divisional round. Harrison was not able to go out on top, though, as the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Patriots for the Lombardi Trophy.

While there were hurt feelings at the time of his release, Harrison believes time has healed the wounds.

"There were a lot of things said, and I think a lot of guys said things because, hey, they were hurt, and when you're hurt, you say things you may not normally say," Harrison told Bouchette. "If you go now, you see players say how James Harrison 'helped me so much, I wouldn't be the same player,' etc. You have to look at the situation what happened, then you have to understand who is saying what, and the fact no one else is coming out and agreeing with it."