The Pittsburgh Steelers should be a fun offense to watch during the 2026 season with new head coach Mike McCarthy running the show. He is known for his offensive prowess, and he will be the one calling the plays during games. That will be a bit of a change-up for the franchise as head coaches in Pittsburgh have not called plays directly in recent history. McCarthy has some specific philosophies behind his offense, one of which is that he likes his team to have at least 55 running plays plus completions. The analytics say that this usually leads to points, so it is safe to say the running game will be crucial in the upcoming season.
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Pittsburgh Steelers running backs Rico Dowdle (13) and Jaylen Warren (30) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Pittsburgh found a gem back during the 2022 offseason when the organization decided to sign Jaylen Warren as an undrafted free agent. He has been a consistent piece in the backfield for the Steelers in the four seasons since then, and he is going to be joined this year by another undrafted running back in Rico Dowdle. When Pittsburgh signed Dowdle in free agency it wasn't too much of a surprise due to his history with McCarthy. McCarthy was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys when the franchise signed Dowdle in 2020, and he coached him for his five seasons with the Cowboys.
Dowdle had his first 1,000-yard season in his final year with the Cowboys in 2024, and he followed that up with another 1,000-yard season in 2025 with the Carolina Panthers. He is a good back, and ESPN's Ben Solak named him as an X-Factor for the offense in Pittsburgh in 2026.
"It's hard to imagine an elite Steelers running game without a big year from Dowdle, who slots in alongside Jaylen Warren to form one of the most interesting one-two punch backfields in the league," Solak wrote. "Warren is at his best as a ball carrier when he's using his fresh legs in relief of a grinder to hit the bigger plays later in a drive. If Dowdle fills his role well behind this Steelers offensive line, which could be the best he has played behind, Pittsburgh has an avenue to defensive victories thanks to a reliable rushing attack that controls the clock and stays ahead of the sticks."
Early indications show that Dowdle might be the lead back in the split in the backfield. He may get most of the work on the early downs while Warren will come in for relief on third downs and in obvious passing situations. They are similar runners, but they each excel in different areas of the game.
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (13) during 2026 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Warren is a better pass-catching back and he is also better in pass protection, while Dowdle can be used in early downs. McCarthy may even have a preference for Dowdle due to the time they have already spent together. The interesting part about what Solak wrote is that this could be the best offensive line Dowdle has played behind. Fans in Pittsburgh might find that hard to believe based on how the unit looked during the preseason, but the young talent does have potential.
Steelers' Rico Dowdle Can Raise The Ceiling Of The 2026 Team
Dowdle's last two seasons were his best, and they were very similar. In 2024 he ran the ball 235 times for 1,079 yards and he scored five total touchdowns. In 2025 he ran the ball 236 times for 1,076 yards and seven total touchdowns. He also eclipsed 200 receiving yards in each of those seasons. If the Steelers can get production better than that out of Dowdle due to him playing behind a better offensive line, the ceiling of this team can really be raised.
What do you think of Dowdle being a big part of the team's success? What do you expect from him in 2026? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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