The Pittsburgh Steelers’ rushing attack was supposed to be a major strength heading into the 2024 season. With Arthur Smith arriving for his first year as offensive coordinator, many expected him to unleash Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren as a dominant one-two punch. That never truly materialized. Warren battled injuries, while Harris was solid, but not explosive enough to elevate the ground game to where it needed to be.
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Steelers running backs Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson stand aside one another during training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Steelers made a bold change by letting Harris walk in free agency, where he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. That left Warren as the lead back, supported by rookie Kaleb Johnson and veteran Kenneth Gainwell. On paper, analysts expected this new trio to spark the Steelers’ rushing attack. However, through the first two games of the season, that hasn’t been the case.
Pittsburgh has managed just 125 total rushing yards so far. The execution hasn’t been there, and the run game has fallen flat instead of setting the tone. Speaking to the Pittsburgh media on Tuesday, Head Coach Mike Tomlin admitted that while Warren was great in Week 2, there’s a bigger issue he believes is holding the Steelers’ running game back.
"I thought Jaylen [Warren] came to play," Tomlin said as he spoke with the Pittsburgh media on Tuesday. "I thought he won 1-on-1s. He oftentimes made the first tackler miss, and he had a good pad level and downhill finish in his play. I thought as a collective, we still lack a little cohesion at times, which is slowing us down."
Tomlin made it clear that Warren did his part, but the overall unit hasn’t been sharp enough to consistently generate positive yardage. The Steelers’ offensive line has shown flashes, yet too often breakdowns have stalled drives and put the offense behind schedule.
Benjamin B. Braun / Post-Gazette
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith celebrate together by shaking hands after the game following a hard-fought win.
Smith’s scheme is built on timing and precision, and when one assignment is missed the entire play can collapse. That lack of rhythm has been the biggest obstacle to Pittsburgh establishing the physical, punishing run game they envisioned.
"A missed combination [block] here, a missed identification there," Tomlin said. "It's not one particular person, and that's why I'm just talking more broadly about us just needing to continue to work and solidify all of those things, so we don't leave quite as much meat on that bone."
From Tomlin’s perspective, the running game is lagging because of a lack of collective execution. It’s an obvious assessment, and one Steelers fans could have pointed out themselves. Now the challenge falls on Tomlin and Smith to find answers and finally get this ground attack moving. Warren is talented, but both Gainwell and Johnson need to pull their weight as well.
Steelers' Kaleb Johnson Not Getting Much Burn
The Steelers’ coaching staff has shown clear trust in Gainwell, giving him plenty of opportunities early, while Johnson has seen very little action. His muffed special teams play may also hurt his chances of earning a bigger role on offense. For now, it looks like the Steelers will lean heavily on a Warren–Gainwell combination to get the run game flowing smoothly.
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Steelers' running back Kenneth Gainwell looks on during a training camp practice in Latrobe, PA.
Many Steelers fans and pundits expected Johnson to play a significant role as a rookie. Pittsburgh drafted him with the belief that he could develop into a difference-maker right away. That hasn’t materialized, and his costly mistake in Week 2 may further limit his chances of cracking the running game plan. The Steelers could still give him more opportunities, but so far there’s been a clear reason why those chances have been few and far between.
What do you think the Steelers need to do to get their running attack running smoother? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.
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