Steelers' Impending Free Agent Returning Would Make Several Players Happy

The Pittsburgh Steelers are settling into the offseason period as major changes continue to take place throughout the organization. Ever since the hiring of new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, the entire franchise has seen significant changes, and that isn't even getting into the eventual free agency period that will begin soon after the Super Bowl. Players will end up re-signing with the team or ultimately leaving to explore better opportunities, and with this change comes moves that will either excite or upset everyone, from the players to the fans. One such player on the team that would make plenty of people happy if he remains has been revealed.

On one of the most recent episodes of The Rich Eisen Show, Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward appeared as a special guest to talk about everything from how he felt about the Super Bowl, to his thoughts on some of these impending free agents the Steelers will have. When he was asked about what he believes Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers may end up choosing to do with regards to returning, Heyward dropped a very interesting comment that shows that the return of another important player would be a positive boost in morale for the entire locker room.

"Aaron's probably worried about other people coming back," Heyward said. "You know, it's not just me. You got to get a guy like Kenneth Gainwell. Kenneth Gainwell, our Team MVP this year who balled out. That's a guy that a lot of people really like in our locker room. And you know, there's some offensive pieces that he wants too, 'cause you know, you're not just going to play this game to play this game."

Heyward's comment on the return of Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell is a very welcomed breath of fresh air to all the Steelers fans that hope Gainwell returns to the team instead of leaving in free agency. These comments only further serve to show how the new coaching staff could anger the fans by not choosing to prioritize Gainwell, as not only could this move anger the fans, it could anger the players as well -- potentially serving as a cautionary tale to any other free agent that might want to join the Steelers. 

Gainwell earned the title of Team MVP with some truly outstanding games throughout the regular season, and was one of the brightest spots on a Steelers' offense that showed periods of inconsistency week in and week out. His best performance came in Week 4, when he put up 99 rushing yards on the ground and scored two touchdowns, marking one of many weeks where Gainwell would be the best player on offense. In some of these games, Gainwell looked like the best player on the entire field, and allowing Gainwell to leave in free agency would be setting the Steelers' offense back in a big way. Heyward's comments seem to show that the players would vouch for Gainwell should he want to return, which shows just how much of a vital role he played last season.

Steelers Need To Prioritize The Run In 2026

The Steelers' best games were the ones where Gainwell could establish himself as a dominant runner, forcing teams to attempt to stop him by any means necessary. In some of these cases, opponents failed, giving the Steelers some easier paths to victory. Should the Steelers not re-sign Gainwell, or if they do, the run game needs to be a focus going into next season, seeing as the neglect of the run game in certain games caused the Steelers to become sluggish on offense. Gainwell is far too talented to simply not use, and the Steelers need to realize that.

What did you think of Heyward's remarks in support of Gainwell? Let us know in the comments below.

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