Kenneth Gainwell Makes Direct Connection To Steelers' 2025 Squad And His Super Bowl-Winning Team In Philadelphia

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be looking to win their first playoff game in nine years when they welcome the Houston Texans to Acrisure Stadium on Monday night. It will be a battle between two teams playing their best ball of the season with the Steelers winning four of the final five games of the regular season, and Houston riding a nine-game winning streak. The vibes are immaculate inside the Steelers' locker room, and one of their star players says the team feels similar to a recent Super Bowl-winning squad.

The Steelers signed Kenneth Gainwell to a one-year deal in the offseason, but it's unsure anyone predicted the kind of production that he has brought to the Steel City in 2025. 

Gainwell wrapped up the regular season with 537 rushing yards, 73 catches for 486 receiving yards, and eight total touchdowns, all of which were new career-highs. His breakout year didn’t go unnoticed either, as his teammates recognized his impact and voted him the collective's Most Valuable Player. 

Before coming to Pittsburgh, Gainwell spent the first four years of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles. During that span, the team reached two Super Bowls, hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy just last season. He’s seen what it takes to be a championship-caliber squad firsthand, and he recognizes those same elements inside the Steelers’ locker room.

While speaking to the media on Saturday, Gainwell was asked to compare the energy of the 2025 Steelers to the 2024 Eagles.

"I feel the same vibes, we're a connected team," Gainwell said. "We bond together, we do everything, I think that's what is going to take us to the next level."

Gainwell and the Eagles only lost three games in 2024, as they were one of the best teams in the NFL from opening day all the way through their 40-22 win in Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs. 

The 2025 Steelers on the other hand, they've had their share of trials and tribulations throughout the season. The team has proven that it can beat anyone, but its also shown that they can get beat by anyone. There were moments during the regular season when the team looked unstoppable, and there were times when mistakes and missed opportunities cost the unit. That inconsistency has been part of the narrative all year.

However, following a 26-24 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18, the overall mood around the team has reached a season-high. Multiple players have talked about how the group feels different right now, carrying a new level of confidence and momentum. There’s a growing belief in the locker room that they group is capable of making a serious push in the postseason, and Gainwell's words back that up.

The Steelers have the monkey on their back regarding their six consecutive playoff losses, with their last postseason victory coming in the 2016 season. That streak hangs over the team like a shadow, and while no player or coach will admit it, it certainly is on their minds. 

There’s a sense that this year’s squad is different, though. The mix of young talent and veteran leadership, paired with the way the team finished the regular season, has created a renewed sense of purpose. The players aren’t just hoping to break the streak, they feel as if they can make a run.

Steelers' Offense Features Multiple Super Bowl Champions

Leading the Steelers' offense along with Gainwell is Super Bowl XLV MVP Aaron Rodgers. Steelers fans won't forget Rodgers leading the Green Bay Packers to a 31-25 win over Pittsburgh at the end of the 2010 campaign, where he threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns. Isaac Seumalo, Scotty Miller, Ben Skowronek and Marquez Valdes-Scantling also raised the Lombardi trophy before arriving in Pittsburgh, and they will look to recapture that feeling in 2026. 

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