Steelers' New HC Mike McCarthy’s Arrival Could Spell The End Of Kenneth Gainwell’s Run In Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers had one of the best stories in the NFL with running back Kenneth Gainwell. Gainwell was the long-time backup to Philadelphia Eagles superstar running back Saquon Barkley and finally got a chance for serious playing time with the Steelers this past season. In his fifth NFL season, the 26-year-old running back had a career year in the Steel City, and played a major role in the Steelers' AFC North title run.

Gainwell's role with the Steelers was anything but certain when he signed with the team this past offseason as a free agent. The path to playing time was hard to foresee, with both Steelers running backs: Jaylen Warren, whom the Steelers signed to a two-year extension this offseason, and Kaleb Johnson, whom the Steelers drafted in the third round of last year's NFL Draft. After a tough first couple of weeks of the season, Johnson faded behind Warren and Gainwell. Gainwell fit like a glove within the Steelers' offense. 

While most teams have a true third down running back for their pass-catching ability, the Steelers had the luxury of having two running backs who were also capable pass-catchers, with Warren and Gainwell.

ESPN's Brooke Pryor predicts that last season's Steelers MVP, will be playing elsewhere next season.

"Gainwell joined the team as a free agent in 2025 on a $1.79 million, one-year deal. He's due for a significantly higher salary in 2026 after earning team MVP honors," Pryor explained. "He led the Steelers with 73 receptions and scored eight touchdowns as he split running back duties with Jaylen Warren. Gainwell was an all-purpose threat in Arthur Smith's scheme, but these Steelers could look a lot different with Mike McCarthy calling plays. The Steelers haven't typically given big contracts to running backs, and it seems more likely that the former Eagle will get paid elsewhere."

Gainwell bet on himself this offseason. After years as a backup with the Eagles, he went to a team where he could've easily been a third-string running back behind Warren and Johnson. Instead, he led the team in receptions as a running back while scoring eight touchdowns as mentioned. The Steelers will have a tough decision to make in the offseason: Is there enough cap space to both pay Gainwell and fill other areas of need? 

The Steelers not only drafted a running back last season, but also extended Warren last offseason, complicating the justification for paying Gainwell. With Gainwell's stellar play with the team in 2025, he is now expected to command much more than the $1.79 million he made this past season. If the Steelers can't keep Gainwell, the production he provided will be hard to replicate, and they'll have to rely on much more from their receivers than they did in the previous campaign.

Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy's Offense Changes Role For Gainwell

New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy's West Coast offense is very different from the one the Steelers previously ran under former Steelers offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith. McCarthy typically uses running backs more conventionally and relies more on receivers in three-receiver sets, unlike Smith, who often goes into heavy sets and uses his running backs like a Swiss Army knife. 

For the Steelers, losing Gainwell would likely mean relying on Johnson to have a much bigger role than he had this season. Johnson has all the tools to do so, but you have to wonder if his confidence was at all shaken by the lack of playing time he had during his rookie season. The Steelers know what they have in Gainwell, and without him, they likely miss the playoffs altogether this season. However, with McCarthy's system vastly different than the system the Steelers' offense operated under Smith, there's a very good chance the rising running back will be playing elsewhere in 2026.

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