Conner: 'It would be hard' to leave Steelers in 2021 free agency

James Conner is entering the final year of his contract, but the running back prefers not to think about potentially playing for a team other than the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021.

"It would be hard," Conner said on "The Adam Schefter Podcast." "It would be hard to put another helmet on, just because of everything and what this city means to me. The city, like you said, I played my college ball in; the city I got my life saved in, became healthy; the city I got drafted to, and I want to be able to say the city I brought a championship to ...

"I'm Pittsburgh through and through. But like I said, I'm big on my faith, and so I'm always going to end up doing and being where I'm supposed to be at thanks to the Lord's guidance and direction. So we'll see. We'll take it one day at a time. I'm staying in the moment."

The 25-year-old played college football at Pittsburgh before the Steelers made him their third-round pick in 2017. He was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma while with the Panthers in 2015 and announced he was cancer-free in May 2016.

On the field, Conner quickly developed into a versatile weapon in the Steelers' offense, starring in 2018 as a runner and receiver. However, the tailback's production fell last season as he battled injuries.

The Steelers added running backs in each of the last three drafts in Jaylen Samuels, Benny Snell Jr., and Anthony McFarland, leaving Conner's future role with the team in question.