The Pittsburgh Steelers travelled overseas to Dublin, Ireland for the team's Week 4 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. The Steelers were able to get the win overseas, which happens to be the first win for the franchise outside of America during the regular season. This game felt extra important for Pittsburgh due to the history of the franchise within the country, which primarily stems from the Rooney family. Pittsburgh won the game 24-21, but the group had a commanding lead late in the game and Minnesota was able to claw back with some late-game heroics.
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Steelers' Mike Tomlin on the sidelines during a game against the Vikings in Dublin, Ireland, during the 2025 season.
Pittsburgh was able to play its most complete game of the 2025 season in its win over Minnesota, despite the Vikings' near comeback victory. The offense was able to move the ball through the air and on the ground even without the team's starting running back. Jaylen Warren was questionable going into the game with a leg injury, and he worked out Sunday morning, but the team decided to make him inactive. This move thrust Kenneth Gainwell into the starting role in the backfield, and he had a very good game. Aaron Rodgers spoke to the media after the contest, and he had nothing but good things to say about the young veteran back.
"I thought Kenny G, obviously, Kenny Gainwell, if you're a football fan, you know who he is and you've followed his career," Rodgers said. "It seemed like every time he went into the game, for me, as a football fan, with Philly, it was like, 'Man, this guy's really good. He should get more touches.' So, when I came here, I knew what kind of player he was. I tell him all the time, he is an absolute baller, any opportunity he gets man, Kenny's been great all year. He's making himself a lot of money."
Gainwell had the best game of his short career in Pittsburgh. He carried the ball 19 times for 99 yards and found himself in the end zone twice. He accounted for a lot of Pittsburgh's offense in the win as he also caught six passes for 35 yards. He kept drives alive on multiple occasions and by far was one of the most impactful players in the game as a whole.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith and running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Gainwell has been making plays all season for Pittsburgh with limited opportunities. In Week 1 against the New York Jets, he even made one of the most impactful plays of the game on special teams as he forced a fumble on a kickoff. He was not featured much as a running back prior to the game in Ireland, but he has proven he can do whatever is asked of him, and he can make a positive impact.
Gainwell should expect to be more involved in the offense moving forward, even after Warren is able to return to the starting lineup. He was able to show that he deserves to have the football in his hands more often, and Head Coach Mike Tomlin even made note of that while speaking with the media after the win.
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Steelers' Kenneth Gainwell takes a handoff from Aaron Rodgers during the 2025 season opener against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Steelers' Kenneth Gainwell Is Performing In A Contract Year
It is important to note that Gainwell only signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh during the 2025 offseason. He will become a free agent during the 2026 offseason unless the organization and the running back agree to a new deal between the time the season ends and the free agency window opens up. Rodgers noted that performances like today are going to make Gainwell a lot of money in the future, and it could be somewhere other than Pittsburgh. The organization drafted Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and Warren signed an extension right before the regular season kicked off.
What do you think about Rodgers' comments on Gainwell? Let us know in the comments below!
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