Najee Harris Injured in Fireworks Incident on July 4

Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris was injured during a fireworks incident on July 4, as confirmed by his agent.

The incident occurred in Antioch, California, approximately 42 miles east of San Francisco. Reports indicate that Harris was initially treated at a local hospital before being transferred to Stanford Hospital for further care.

Doug Henrickson, Harris' agent, provided an update on the situation, stating, "Najee Harris was present at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees. Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season."

On July 5, the Antioch Police Department reported via social media that multiple individuals were injured due to a fireworks explosion. Some victims had already left the scene before first responders arrived and were treated at nearby hospitals, while others received medical attention on-site.

Authorities have not disclosed the identities of those injured and indicated that more information would be released in subsequent updates.

Harris, who gained recognition at Antioch High School, was a top recruit in 2017 before committing to the University of Alabama. He achieved significant success there, winning two national championships and earning All-American honors in 2020.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Harris made an immediate impact. He was selected for the Pro Bowl in his rookie season and named to the league's All-Rookie Team. Notably, he became the first Steelers running back to start his career with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, adding a fourth in 2024.

In March, Harris signed a one-year contract with the Chargers worth $9.5 million. As of Thursday afternoon, the team had not released any statements regarding the fireworks incident.

This incident has drawn parallels to a previous fireworks-related injury involving NFL player Jason Pierre-Paul. On July 4, 2015, Pierre-Paul suffered severe injuries to his right hand due to a fireworks explosion, resulting in the loss of a finger. He later became an advocate for firework safety through public service announcements.