It’s impossible to see the headlines and not immediately think back to one of the most unforgettable, gut-punch chapters in recent New York Giants history.
Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris, who signed a one-year deal this offseason after four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, reportedly suffered a minor eye injury during a Fourth of July fireworks mishap in Antioch, California. Harris’ agent quickly issued a statement assuring fans the injury was “superficial” and that he’s expected to be ready for the season. Still, the report came with troubling details — injuries to several attendees, hospitalizations, and, at one point, Harris visiting two separate medical centers for treatment.
It’s the kind of accident you never want to see. And if you’ve followed the G-Men for more than a minute, you know exactly where the mind goes: Jason Pierre-Paul.
JPP comparison writes itself in cautionary tale for Najee Harris
It’s been just over a decade since JPP’s 2015 fireworks accident changed the trajectory of his NFL career. What was supposed to be a harmless celebration turned catastrophic when a firework exploded in his right hand. He lost a finger. Needed skin grafts. Underwent double-digit surgeries. Missed games. Lost out on millions. And, somehow, still returned to play another nine seasons — eventually winning a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and finishing just shy of 100 career sacks. His resilience was incredible. His story, unforgettable.
The fact that Harris — one of the league’s most durable backs, entering his first year in L.A. — came even remotely close to a similar outcome is both eerie and a reminder of how fast things can turn.
JPP has since made fireworks safety his platform. Every summer, he releases videos, posts images of his hand, and pleads with people to leave the explosives to the professionals. His message is blunt because it has to be — he’s lived the consequences in a way very few can understand. For Harris, the outcome appears far less serious.
But the moment still underscores why JPP continues doing what he does. It’s never about the one firework that goes off without issue. It’s about the one that doesn’t.
Big Blue Nation likely flinched when they saw Harris’ name next to “fireworks injury.” We all did. And while we’re relieved this didn’t become a tragic repeat, it’s yet another reason JPP’s warning will never stop being relevant, though it’s unfortunate how often that message only resonates in hindsight.