The Pittsburgh Steelers have reshaped their running back room for the 2025 NFL season. With Najee Harris leaving in free agency and Cordarrelle Patterson released, Jaylen Warren is the lone returning back from 2024. Warren has totaled nearly 1,300 rushing yards over the past two years and is widely expected to assume the RB1 role following Harris’ departure. Competition is emerging however, as several newcomers are making strong cases for the starting job, and one running back recently sparked speculation with a cryptic post to Steelers fans on X.
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren (30) during a preseason game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Panthers, on Thursday August 21, 2025 in Charlotte, NC.
The Steelers signed Kenneth Gainwell to a one-year deal worth $1.79 million in March. Gainwell is entering his fifth year in the NFL out of Memphis, spending his first four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles backing up Miles Sanders, De'Andre Swift, and Saquon Barkley. Gainwell has always been a serviceable backup and third-down weapon, but he wants to be more than that in Pittsburgh.
Gainwell took to X on Friday morning when rumors were conveniently swirling about who will be the Steelers' RB1 when they face the New York Jets in two weeks.
"They gone find out real soon!!" Gainwell said via X.
It's important to remember that Gainwell could be referring to many things here. The Steelers' running game has showed promise this offseason, but many pundits would argue there's still plenty of room for improvement. Gainwell could simply be referring to the room as a whole taking the league by storm in 2025. However, it would be no surprise if he were referring to himself as being the player to look out for in the Steel City. He has shown his capability of being an impact player so far in his NFL career and has a competitive spirit.
Gainwell has rushed for 1,185 yards with 12 touchdowns in his career, to go along with 102 receptions for 721 yards. During his four seasons with the Eagles, Gainwell carved out a reputation as a reliable dual-threat option. Though often used in a rotational role, Gainwell proved that he was capable of producing in high-leverage moments. Steelers fans might recall the nasty spin-move that he put on Donte Jackson during Pittsburgh's 27-13 loss at Philadelphia last December.
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Kenneth Gainwell runs the ball against the Steelers in December 2024.
So is Gainwell now a candidate for the Steelers' starting running back spot in 2025, that's the real question. With recent rumors swirling of Warren being in danger getting benched due to ball security issues, the idea of someone else leading the Steelers' running back room doesn't seem so unrealistic. Warren has seven fumbles in his career so far, including four in 2023 alone. In the Steelers' recent preseason win over the Panthers, Warren put the ball on the ground during Pittsburgh's opening drive. Warren might be the most talented running back that the Steelers currently have, but with turnovers being a potential issue, it might not be a terrible idea to turn elsewhere to lead the way.
Even if Warren does get benched however, does Gainwell take his place? The Steelers spent a third-round draft pick on Kaleb Johnson in April, and the expectations for him are sky high. Johnson rushed for 2,779 yards in three years at Iowa, and he did show some promise during the preseason, rushing for 94 yards on 23 carries. One area of uncertainty with Johnson's game is his pass protection abilities, simply due to the fact that Iowa did not throw the ball much while Johnson was there.
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Steelers RB Kaleb Johnson stiff arms Travis Hunter to the ground in a 2025 preseason game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Pass protection is an area where Gainwell could separate himself from Johnson in terms of competition. It will be key for the Steelers to protect four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers in 2025. With some uncertainty on the offensive line, the Steelers' running backs will need to be helpful in the pass protection game. Durability will also play a factor. Gainwell has remained relatively healthy throughout his career, only missing one game due to injury so far.
Steelers' Gainwell Brings Experience And Success To Pittsburgh
Along with pass protection and durability, Gainwell brings experience and success. The Eagles made it to two Super Bowls during Gainwell's tenure, winning one last season. The Steelers are looking to replicate the playoff success that Gainwell experienced in Philadelphia, and he could potentially help them reach that threshold.
Do you think that Kenneth Gainwell could emerge as the Steelers' number one option at running back? What else do you think Gainwell might have been referring to in his post? Let us know in the comments!
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