Steelers Fans Get Clarity On Strange Strategy That Was Used In Win Over Jets

The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to begin the 2025 NFL season with a victory as the team took down the New York Jets for its first win of the new year. Steelers fans desperately wanted the team to start the year off hot, especially after losing the final five games of the 2024 season. Pittsburgh won the game over New York by a score of 34-32, and the game did not go the way many thought it would. It was an absolute shootout as both defenses struggled, and both offenses were extremely efficient and reliable.

Going into the 2025 season, a lot of fans in Pittsburgh were worried about the offense, mainly because of new quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the lack of depth at wide receiver, the offensive line, and the inefficient rushing attack. Rodgers quickly quieted the doubters as he played phenomenally throughout the entire contest, but the rushing attack for the Steelers was suspect. It also caught fans by surprise to see Kenneth Gainwell so much early on, as Jaylen Warren didn't really get involved until the second half. Insider Mark Kaboly was asked about this during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan on Monday.

"I think that was game plan specific," Kaboly hypothesized. "Just to the Jets for some reason. They must have saw something there. Talking to Gainwell after the game, he sounded like a guy that knew he was going to get some added numbers. I don't know if that's how it's going to be moving forward. What'd he have, 10 touches all together? Most of Jaylen Warren's stuff came later. I don't know if I want him [Gainwell] to be my bell-cow. He's very good at what he is able to do. I wouldn't anticipate that moving forward."

Kaboly doesn't believe fans should be prepared for another game where Gainwell out snaps Warren in the first half, and he believes it was specific to the game plan for New York. Gainwell is thought to be a situational running back, so fans were shocked to see him on the field as much as he was during the first half of the game on Sunday.

Gainwell out snapped and got more touches than Warren in the first half, but things balanced out by the end of the game. Warren was heavily involved in the second half, as Pittsburgh seemed to make some sort of halftime adjustment. In the game, Gainwell rushed seven times for 19 yards and caught three passes for just four yards. Warren ran the ball 11 times for 37 yards and caught two passes for 10 yards and a touchdown.

Warren is the top running back in Pittsburgh, and he will certainly be more involved moving forward as the Steelers continue to figure out the best way to tweak the run game. Both Warren and Gainwell are serviceable backs on third down, and they could each be featured a decent amount, while rookie Kaleb Johnson continues to get brought up to speed.

Steelers Will Bring Kaleb Johnson Into The Fold At Some Point In 2025

Pittsburgh drafted Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and the rookie running back has the makings of being the future lead back for the Steelers. He can certainly become the bell-cow of the offense once he proves that he can be reliable with the football, and also be more than serviceable in pass protection. That is an area that Warren shines, which is why it is hard for the coaching staff to take him off of the field and replace him with Johnson. 

The rookie is one of Pittsburgh's kick returners, but he only ran the football once on Sunday for a loss of yards. He also carried the ball to the outside and drew a 15-yard penalty on a late-hit.

What did you think about the running back usage on Sunday? Let us know in the comments below!

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