Price To Keep Offensive Star Kenneth Gainwell Past 2025 Revealed For The Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a ton of question marks on the offensive side of the ball entering the 2025 season. The quarterback room has completely turned over for the third season in a row with four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers joining the organization to be the starter, and there was other positional turnover within the offense as well. The Steelers moved on from left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and Broderick Jones was the starter to begin the year, while Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren have stepped up to fulfill the backfield duties after Najee Harris' departure.

Rodgers has played well throughout the year and the young offensive line for the Steelers has continued to improve, but the most pleasant surprise on the offense has been Gainwell. The running back is playing more than he ever has in his NFL career, and he is making the most of his opportunity. He and Warren have turned into one of the best backfields in the league, and he is proving to be the best offseason acquisition for the Steelers. He is only signed through the 2025 season, and the organization should do everything imaginable to keep the running back in Pittsburgh. Team insider Ray Fittipaldo was asked what that might take during his mailbag on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"I say give him the Jaylen Warren contract," Fittipaldo wrote. "Two guys playing on the same deal."

Warren signed a two-year contract extension ahead of the 2025 season. His deal was for two years and it was worth $11.9 million. He is under contract through the 2027 season, and Fittipaldo can see Gainwell getting a similar deal. The Steelers will need to get the running back to agree to a new deal before free agency opens up, as there should be a lot of teams pursuing Gainwell if he makes it to the open market.

Gainwell has certainly earned a deal within the range of what Warren received from Pittsburgh. Gainwell signed with the Steelers for next to nothing in free agency during the 2025 offseason as he inked a one-year deal that was worth nearly $1.8 million. He was a good third-down back for the Philadelphia Eagles during his first four seasons in the league, but his market was shallow during the 2025 offseason.

The running back will get his pay day during the 2026 offseason, and hopefully that comes from Pittsburgh. Gainwell has been efficient on the ground for the Steelers and he has been the team's second-leading receiver on the year. In 2025, he has ran for 501 yards while hauling in 62 passes for 410 yards. He has scored seven total touchdowns on the year, and he has made a strong case to be Pittsburgh's offensive MVP.

Gainwell's market was probably pretty bleak during the 2025 offseason due to him playing in the shadow of Saquon Barkley in 2024 with the Eagles. He should be getting plenty of attention in free agency this time around, but Pittsburgh should do everything in its power to keep it from getting to that point.

Steelers' Running Backs Made A Name For Themselves In Win Over Lions In Week 16

Pittsburgh took down the Detroit Lions in Week 16 by a score of 29-24, and the Steelers had the best backfield in that matchup. That is something that would not have been expected as the Lions have two of the better running backs in the league. The running backs for the Steelers accounted for three total touchdowns and 279 total yards, including an incredibly important touchdown catch by Gainwell before halftime. If fans around the league did not know how good the backfield was in Pittsburgh, they do now.

What do you think the Steelers will do to keep Gainwell? Let us know in the comments below!

#SteelerNation