The Pittsburgh Steelers started the 2025 season off with a win in Week 1 after taking down the New York Jets, but Pittsburgh did not win the game in the way most fans expected. Many thought it would be a low scoring affair where Pittsburgh's defense would find a way to win the ball game, but that was not the case in the slightest. The contest turned into a shootout as the Steelers were able to win by a score of 34-32, and the Steelers' offense looked more explosive than ever. The defense struggled, but there is hope that the unit will turn things around in Week 2.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Kenneth Gainwell takes a handoff from Aaron Rodgers during the 2025 season opener against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
The offensive explosion was certainly a surprise to most fans, as was the running back usage. Kaleb Johnson barely saw the field on offense, which was somewhat expected. However, Kenneth Gainwell got more action in the first half of the game for Pittsburgh at running back while Jaylen Warren was on the sidelines. Things changed in the second half, but it was surprising to see Gainwell getting more touches at the start. The veteran running back spoke to the media on Thursday, where he delivered a confident remark.
Steeler RB Kenny Gainwell on his versatility: "I'm a weapon ,and I know I am. And I'm just excited that I got the opportunity to show that versatility on the field. And I know the guys that are around me, like Jaylen [Warren], really love that I can come here and do what I do."
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) September 11, 2025
Gainwell carried the ball seven times in the game against New York for 19 yards, and he also caught three passes for four yards. He didn't necessarily perform well on offense, but he did what he was asked to do. He made potentially the biggest play of the game on special teams as he was able to strip the ball away from the Jets' returner, which Pittsburgh quickly recovered. The offense then scored almost immediately.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Jaylen Warren celebrates after scoring against the Jets in Week 1 of the 2025 season.
Many fans thought that Warren would be the bell cow and Gainwell would only come on the field in certain third down situations, but that was clearly not the case in the win over the Jets. The strategy at the running back position will probably vary from week to week based on who the opponent is going to be, but it seems like Gainwell is going to be a larger piece of the offense than most expected.
The running back clearly does not lack any confidence in his skills. He was living in the shadow of Saquon Barkley during the 2024 season, but he still made some major plays for the Philadelphia Eagles on their way to winning Super Bowl LIX. He now has a bigger role in Pittsburgh, and he started the season off on a good note with an impressive performance on Sunday.
Steelers Still Waiting For Rookie To Bloom At Running Back
Pittsburgh drafted Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he looks like he has what it takes to be the future lead back of the team. However, he is not ready for meaningful reps quite yet. He still struggles in pass protection, and his hands don't seem to be all that reliable coming out of the backfield. He is serving as Pittsburgh's kick returner for the time being, although he did fumble the ball once during the Week 1 win over the Jets, which Pittsburgh was able to recover.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers RB Kaleb Johnson stiff arms Travis Hunter to the ground in a 2025 preseason game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Johnson only had two carries in the victory, and neither was all that impressive. He got hit late going out of bounds and drew a 15-yard penalty, which was probably his highlight of the day. He should be used more and more as the weeks go by, but Pittsburgh has never really rushed rookies into a meaningful role.
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