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There was a second when fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers were wondering if James Harrison would return for the 2016 season. Sure, his contract had one more year remaining on it, but at some point the human body makes it pretty clear it is time to hang it up.
Harrison has toyed with the option of retirement this offseason, but eventually retreated to Arizona to put himself through a 6-week workout regimen which would ultimately decide whether his body can handle to rigors required to play the game at a high level. That is exactly what Harrison proved in 2015 -- that he can still play the game at a high level.
In 2015 he had 5 sacks and 27 tackles as he resumed his role as the anchor of the Steelers' defense from the right side, and his time in the desert clearly told him he is ready for another go around in the NFL.
Harrison took to Instagram Monday to make an announcement, and barring him playing some strange type of joke, it looks as if the man fans and teammates call "Deebo" will officially be back in 2016 for one more year. One more chance at Super Bowl immortality.
Will the Steelers be able to send him off into the sunset holding a Lombardi trophy as they did with Jerome Bettis in 2005? They certainly have the talent to do so, and there are few more deserving of such a sendoff as Harrison.