Steelers Are Eager To Get Back To Old School Football With The Usage Of Riley Nowakowski

The Pittsburgh Steelers are under a new regime with Head Coach Mike McCarthy at the helm for his first season in the Steel City. The Steelers are known for playing smash-mouth football, being physical, and not being afraid to run the ball with heavy personnel. The Black and Gold have wanted to get back to that style of football this season purely based on some of the players that have been added to the team, including a big receiver like Michael Pittman Jr., giant tight end Darnell Washington earning an extension, and running back Rico Dowdle being added to a running back room that already features Jaylen Warren. 

The Steelers ranked towards the bottom of total rushing last year (1,756 yards) and got away from being the rushing team that they once were. Pittsburgh's rushing attack is what made some of its best offenses so special. It strayed away from that in 2025, but under McCarthy, he's looking to turn the tide. With a tandem of highly skilled running backs in Warren and Dowdle, the two should be in for a season where reps will be split between them, providing two different skill sets and fresh legs. 

On top of the two backs, Pittsburgh made a dynamic move to select fullback/H-back/tight end Riley Nowakowski in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. This move caught a lot of attention as the Steelers got away from using a traditional fullback at times in 2025. Many teams don't use players strictly at the position anymore, but the coaching staff moving towards using one has proven they want to get back to physical football. The Athletic's Mike DeFabo revealed on X that the rookie has taken snaps with the tight ends and running backs during training camp. 

This is a big deal for the Steelers, as being able to run the ball at will should only help them in a physically demanding division like the AFC North. Pittsburgh's running game wasn't anything to write home about in 2025, and should be a centerpiece for a team that has been dominant in the category in its history. Nowakowski played fullback and tight end in college, but his versatility could land him a role at both spots for 2026.

The rookie working with the running backs proves that McCarthy and his staff view him as someone who can line up in the backfield when needed. This will give the Steelers a lead blocker coming out of there, which should open up plays where the Steelers can rush right at the point of attack. It also gives them a sure-handed receiver out of the backfield too. 

Nowakowski is undersized for a tight end, but has tremendous receiving upside, as well as great blocking skills. This will only make him a perfect candidate for a role somewhat similar to that of Connor Heyward from 2025, but bigger and seemingly more involved in the backfield. Nowakowski lining up at fullback shouldn't be any surprise, as McCarthy has historically used the position on his teams. The veteran head coach has already made some major changes in camp, but this position should exemplify how he wants to get back to typical Steelers football. 

Running The Ball More Efficiently Should Be A Point Of Emphasis For The Steelers

Pittsburgh didn't run the ball with any sort of dominance in 2025 as mentioned, with Warren being the team's leading rusher with under 1,000 yards. However, with the added offensive line depth and a duo of running backs who have had legit success in the NFL, the team is hoping that the negative narrative that they cannot run the ball effectively can be changed. Nowakowski at fullback will only help them do that at a more effective level. 

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