James Conner is heading into the final year of his rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that missed having a healthy battering ram leading their running back group last season. Injuries to his knee, shoulder, and thigh limited Conner to 10 games, as the Steelers finished 31st in rushing yards and 28th in rushing touchdowns.
Even though the Steelers drafted Anthony McFarland to boost their dormant running back group, Conner isn't concerned over his future in Pittsburgh. He wants to remain with the Steelers.
"It will be hard to put another helmet on, just because of everything and what this city means to me," Conner said on The Adam Schefter Podcast. "This city I played my college ball in, had my life saved, the city I got drafted to -- and I want to be able to say it's the city I brought a championship to. I'm Pittsburgh through and through. I'm going to end up doing what I'm doing and end up where I'm supposed to be at. We'll take it one day at a time and stay in the moment."
In 2019, Conner recorded just 116 carries and finished with 464 yards and four touchdowns, averaging just 4.0 yards per carry. He also caught 34 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns. The Steelers didn't get much help from other running backs, as 2019 fourth-round pick Benny Snell averaged just 3.9 yards per carry in his rookie season in 13 games while Jaylen Samuels had just 2.7 yards per carry.
McFarland rushed for 1,034 yards and four touchdowns (7.9 yards per carry) in his redshirt freshman season at Maryland, but those numbers dipped to 614 yards and eight touchdowns (5.4 yards per carry) last season. There's an opportunity for him to take some snaps from Conner, who has high expectations for himself in 2020.
"I'm so motivated for this season. I'm going to control everything I can control and just put it together and have a good year," Conner said. "I know what my work ethic is. I know where my faith is. I'm just going to go out and play football like I know how to do. The staff and organization believe in me and my teammates believe in me. That's really all I need.
"Every time I go out and play, I just look forward to that opportunity. You have to perform. At the end of the day, that's all what it's about. I truly believe when I put a full season together, it's something special."
Conner has spent his entire life in western Pennsylvania, attending the University of Pittsburgh after playing high school ball at McDonnell High School in Erie. At Pittsburgh, Conner announced he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, going through 12 rounds of chemotherapy before having his last appointment in 2016. In May of 2016, Conner declared he was cancer free and rushed for 1,092 yards and 16 touchdowns that fall.
With a pre-existing condition, is Conner worried if the NFL reopens amidst the COVID-19 pandemic? There are concerns regarding athletes with preexisting conditions, but Conner has went through all the proper channels.
"It honestly, truly doesn't (concern me)," Conner said. "I'm going on four years now. Just talking with my doctor, he said you got nothing to worry about as far as your immune system. I'm far removed form that, my body is healed. I have no concerns with that. I'm keeping distant and doing all that."
