Steelers Quiet On Expanded Role For Running Back Jaylen Warren He Says

The Pittsburgh Steelers should look differently as far as the offense goes in 2025. With another year of turnaround at the quarterback position, and with key position players like Najee Harris and George Pickens not being with the team any longer, Pittsburgh's offense under Arthur Smith could become more dynamic. The Steelers have made many new additions at wide receiver and running back, both through free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft. Smith, Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator, is commonly known for making opponents suffer against the run, which could mean a breakout year is ahead for Jaylen Warren. 

The common expectation for 2025 is that Warren will take the role of Harris, taking the larger workload, while rookie Kaleb Johnson can come in behind him with some burst. Johnson, taken by Pittsburgh in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, likely won't surpass Warren when it comes to snap counts, at least early on in the season, but the fans will still want to see him on the field. 

The Steelers don't just have Warren and Johnson, they also picked up Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon this offseason. Cordarrelle Patterson also remains on the roster currently as well. The Steelers are still in the early stages of the offseason, as they are working through Organized Team Activities (OTAs), so no one is quite sure how the running backs will divvy up this year overall. 

On Tuesday, after the team's session, Warren and other players got a chance to speak with reporters. Warren was asked if the team has spoken with him about what his role will look like this season or if it will be expanded to any degree. Warren's response was rather short and simple, but could be alarming for some. 

"No," said Warren.

Some have concerns about Warren taking on a bigger role in the backfield due to his lack of durability. He appeared in 15 of 17 games last season, but he was clearly unhealthy early in the season which slowed down his 2024 campaign. He only reached the end zone once, and his yards per carry dropped a whole yard from 2023 to 2024.

While the numbers don't lie about Warren's performance last year, it was still visibly clear that he carried the ball more effectively than Harris. A large portion of the fan base has been calling for Warren to get the starting spot over Harris since 2023 when he ran for over 700 yards on 5.3 yards per carry. 

Warren also spoke about Gainwell and how they play similarly in the passing attack. Gainwell just concluded a season as a Super Bowl champion backing up Saquon Barkley with the Philadelphia Eagles. All three, Warren, Gainwell, and Johnson, are serious threats in the pass and Smith said that was a big reason why they drafted Johnson. 

Will Steelers' Kaleb Johnson Eventually Surpass Jaylen Warren As Starting Running Back?

The Steelers took Johnson in the draft to be their future in the backfield. Warren signed a one-year restricted free agent tender with the Steelers this offseason, which means he will be available via free agency next year. The regular season will have a major impact on what Pittsburgh's backfield will look like in 2026, but it's also possible that Johnson takes over as the starting running back this season. 

The worst thing that could happen for Warren in 2025 is another injury, but he also said in his interview that he's been taking his recovery process a lot more serious. The Steelers don't typically force rookies into the lineup and into game situations until they're completely ready, but at this position, Johnson will be on the field and carrying the ball, to some degree, right off of the bat.

How do you think the running back snaps will divvy up, particularly early in the season? What kind of season is in store for Pittsburgh's running backs with Smith in his second season as the offensive coordinator? Let us know in the comments below.

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