The Pittsburgh Steelers struggled in two big areas during the start of the 2025 season. The defense was not playing well at all and it had been a disappointment, while the running game was also struggling. That changed in Week 4 during a win over the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland. Pittsburgh played its most complete game of the season thus far, as the defense stepped up and the running game looked better than it had in the first three games. This was a shock as Jaylen Warren was a late scratch from the contest, but Kenneth Gainwell looked great in his absence.
Tyler Miller / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Kenneth Gainwell runs behind Darnell Washington during a Week 4 game in the 2025 season in Dublin, Ireland.
Gainwell was the lead back for Pittsburgh during its matchup with Minnesota. The running back carried the ball 19 times for 99 yards and two touchdowns, while also catching six passes for 35 yards. This was great production from a running back that the Steelers signed to a one-year deal during the 2025 offseason.
Gainwell played with Calvin Austin III during their time in college at Memphis, and the wide receiver went on 102.5 WDVE on Tuesday night to discuss his former college teammate.
"I just knew the type of player Kenny was, and I was like, 'We're gonna be good' because Kenny's a baller," Austin explained. "That's a good game for him, but he's still capable of so much more. Even on some of the runs he had, he was mad that he had gotten tackled. Even after he broke a lot of tackles, he was upset. I still think the NFL world hasn't seen what Kenny is really capable of. He's one of the best football players that l've played with. It was just very cool to see him have that moment, and he's gonna be a big component of us winning down the line."
Austin seems to have high hopes for Gainwell, and he knows the veteran running back has a lot more left in the tank. The talent has always shined with Gainwell, even during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was an efficient third-down back with Philadelphia, but he was stuck in the shadow of Saquon Barkley during the 2024 season.
AP photo
Former Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell runs with the football in a home game against his new team, the Steelers.
According to Austin, Gainwell wanted to do more in the win over the Vikings in Week 4. He was upset with himself that he got brought down in a couple of situations, which is good to hear for Steelers fans. Gainwell is motivated to play well, which should help the running game continue to improve as the season moves along.
The running back has already made a huge impact for the Steelers during the 2025 season. He was arguably the team's most valuable player in the win over Minnesota, and he also scored a touchdown the week prior against the New England Patriots. He even has made splash plays on special teams, which was seen in Week 1 against the New York Jets as he forced a fumble on a kickoff return that changed the course of the game.
Steelers Will Still Rely On Jaylen Warren As The Lead Back
Gainwell's exceptional performance had some fans questioning whether or not he will see a bigger role moving forward, and that could happen. However, Warren should still be expected to be the lead back in Pittsburgh. Gainwell could certainly still see more touches, and he has definitely earned them with his play so far in 2025.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers running backs for the 2025 season: Kenneth Gainwell, Kaleb Johnson, Jaylen Warren.
This is a good problem for Pittsburgh to have, as the team has two veteran running backs that are more than capable of contributing in big ways. Rookie Kaleb Johnson will also continue to get worked in more, which will help keep everyone fresh down the road.
What do you think about Austin's remarks on Gainwell's performance in Week 4? Let us know in the comments below!
#SteelerNation
