The Pittsburgh Steelers opted to let former first-round pick Najee Harris walk in free agency, bringing an end to his tenure in the Steel City. Harris signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, leaving Pittsburgh to reshape its backfield. In response, the Steelers placed a tender on running back Jaylen Warren, who is now expected to take on a much larger role in the offense without Harris.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren working on a drill together at practice.
To bolster their running back depth, the Steelers signed former Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl champion Kenneth Gainwell to a one-year deal. Gainwell arrives in Pittsburgh with a legitimate opportunity to see his role expand significantly. Though he thrived when given opportunities in Philadelphia, his chances were limited due to sharing the backfield with one of the league’s top running backs, Saquon Barkley.
One of the most puzzling aspects of the Steelers’ offseason moves is that they’ve made key acquisitions without clarity on who their starting quarterback will be. During his introductory press conference, Gainwell was asked by Steelers insider Brooke Pryor whether the uncertainty at quarterback concerned him. Gainwell gave a very honest response.
"I don’t know, like I said, it is my first day here, so hopefully we find the greatest quarterback out there that we can," Gainwell expressed. "Hopefully he can come in and do exactly what we need to do to get more wins."
Gainwell isn’t sure if he even considered the Steelers’ ongoing quarterback situation when he agreed to terms with Pittsburgh. That question is particularly interesting from a fan’s perspective, as uncertainty at quarterback could be impacting the team’s ability to attract free agents. Many players want to know the roster and overall direction of a team before committing, and if the most important position remains unsettled, it could create hesitation or even deter talent from signing with the Steelers.
AP photo
Former Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell runs with the football in a home game against his new team the Steelers.
For Gainwell, however, it wasn’t a concern. He remains optimistic that Pittsburgh will find the best possible option at quarterback. As of Thursday, all eyes are on 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, with reports indicating that a deal is on the table. Now, the football world—along with the Steelers—is simply waiting for Rodgers to make his decision.
For Gainwell, the quarterback situation didn’t seem to play a major role in his decision. He’s excited to join the Steelers and trusts whatever plan Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan have in place. Gainwell sees Pittsburgh as a great opportunity to carve out a bigger role in an offense that values physical, downhill running. He also believes the Steelers' strong culture and coaching stability will set him up for success, regardless of who lines up under center.
At this point, it feels like Rodgers is the Steelers’ likely choice—it’s just a matter of him taking his time to decide. At 41 years old, this is a crucial decision for him, and given his polarizing nature, he’s once again the center of attention. Rodgers appears in no rush, patiently weighing his options before making an official announcement.
Steelers Likely To Still Draft A Running Back In The 2025 NFL Draft
The Steelers now have Warren and Gainwell forming a solid one-two punch, but both remain relatively unproven in expanded roles. With each back expected to take on greater responsibilities, there’s pressure to maintain their efficiency while handling a heavier workload—something that isn’t always easy for running backs in this league. More carries often lead to diminished production, and the Steelers will need to see whether Warren and Gainwell can sustain their effectiveness over a full season.
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Steelers' Kenneth Gainwell during his time with the Eagles.
Given the depth of this year’s loaded running back draft class, it’s still highly likely that the Steelers will add another back. The question is when and in what round they’ll make their move. With so much young talent available, bringing in a dynamic rookie alongside Warren and Gainwell could give Pittsburgh a truly dangerous backfield.
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