Steelers' Exciting Running Back Rotation Finally Revealed Ahead Of Week 1

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a very strong, underrated duo in the backfield entering the 2026 NFL season. The presumed starter is Jaylen Warren, who has been with the Steelers since 2022 and has been extremely efficient every season. The newest veteran face in Pittsburgh's rushing attack is Rico Dowdle. Dowdle is entering his seventh NFL season and is expected to have a major role in the Steel City this year. The interesting question relating to the backfield: how will new head coach Mike McCarthy deploy both running backs?

Both of the Steelers' running backs have unique skill sets, and it seems that they will be able to complement each other very well. The thought is that McCarthy will use them both very consistently, and neither of them will have a specific role. Both players are dynamic and have multiple levels to their game, allowing Pittsburgh to plug and play them where the team sees fit.

In a recent clip from 93.7 The Fan's podcast, Steelers reporter Ray Fittipaldo explained the way that McCarthy likes to work his backfield.

"The split will be 50/50," Fittipaldo noted. "Mike McCarthy likes to keep guys in for full series. He likes to keep opposing defensive coordinators guessing and not having a true third-down back."

It sounds like Warren and Dowdle will both get opportunities all over the field, something that should instill confidence in Steelers fans that the rushing attack will be very effective in 2026. Warren, who will probably be the first running back to see the field this season, has been a member of the Steelers since he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022 as mentioned. Warren rushed for 1,216 yards and 11 touchdowns during his final season with the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and that earned him the opportunity he got from Pittsburgh. Warren has ranked near the top of the NFL in explosive run rate, broken tackle rate, and yards per carry efficiency for the majority of his career. In 2025, he set career highs with 958 rushing yards, 333 receiving yards, and 8 total touchdowns. 

That season proved that he can be used all over the field. His impressive efficiency, combined with his extremely effective pass protection skills, have made him a strong contributor to the Steelers' offense and a weapon that the team can count on. 

Dowdle, who is entering his first season in the Steel City, has had an impressive career in his own right. Dowdle originally signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2020, but did not see much playing time until the 2024 NFL season. He had his breakout season in 2024, recording 1,079 rushing yards and becoming the first undrafted player in the Cowboys' history to do so. 

In the 2025 NFL season, he suited up for the Carolina Panthers. Again, Dowdle was very impressive, recording 1,076 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns across 17 games. While Dowdle did not have full control of the backfield for the entire season, he set NFL social media on fire after posting back-to-back 200-plus-yard scrimmage games in Weeks 5 and 6. This put the NFL world on notice about what he is capable of, and it's obvious that Pittsburgh believes in Dowdle. They rewarded him with a two-year, $12.25 million contract this offseason.

Steelers' Rushing Attack Depends On The Offensive Line

While Pittsburgh has two great backs in Warren and Dowdle, the offensive line's ability to create holes in the defense is going to be crucial to the Steelers' rushing efficiency. This unit has been one of the major storylines of Pittsburgh's preseason, and not for the right reasons. Plenty of questions have surrounded the team's offensive line, most notably the team's uncertainty over which players will start at which positions. As the season opener quickly approaches, the Steelers are going to need to have a solid plan in place for the big guys up front if the organization wants have any chance of success in 2026. 

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