The Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason have been tasked with overhauling most of their coaching staff -- a task that no team necessarily wants to go through, especially with the NFL Draft being in their town. However, they're fortunate enough to not have many free agents that would be crucial to re-sign. There is one free agent though that would certainly be an ideal re-sign candidate.
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Steelers' Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell celebrate after a play against the Green Bay Packers in 2025.
Running back and Team MVP Kenneth Gainwell is set to be a free agent in March. He was brought in unexpectedly in the 2025 offseason and it was unknown how much he would play, given the fact that he and fan favorite Jaylen Warren share similar skill sets.
Gainwell far exceeded expectations. He led the team in receptions with 73 catches for 486 yards and also had 537 yards on the ground for five touchdowns. Gainwell wasn't just stats, however. He made huge plays for the Steelers, most notably his huge touchdown catch to end the half against the Detroit Lions in Week 16. Though Gainwell was awesome this past season, he is only on a one-year contract and has now played himself into a nice payday. Steelers Insider Mark Kaboly recently wrote an article about the Steelers and their set free agents, giving Steelers fans bad news regarding Gainwell.
"If the old regime were still in place, Gainwell would be a slam dunk of a yes. But we don’t know [Mike] McCarthy and Offensive Coordinator Brian Angelichio’s feelings on Gainwell, even if he was the Team MVP last year. Spotrac has his market value at 2 years for $6 million. For a guy who has made less than $6 million over his entire career, more money somewhere else might be attractive. -- CHOOSES TO SIGN ELSEWHERE."
Losing Gainwell is certainly not ideal for the Steelers. At times, it seemed like he was their only offense during the season. With Aaron Rodgers potentially coming back, he will most certainly want his security blanket back at his side. Gainwell's value at receiver can't be undermined. Sure, he was a good runner, but catching the ball out of the backfield is where he excelled. With the Steelers' receiving room being in shambles, Gainwell must become a priority to return.
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) scores a touchdown vs the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Steelers have a good thing going in their current backfield. They use a running back by committee, meaning there's no true bell cow. Under new head coach Mike McCarthy, this could change, but Gainwell's value is too good to lose.
Steelers Can Pay Two Running Backs
The Steelers going into this offseason have more than enough cap space to work with. They will have roughly $44,768,173 to spend, the ninth-highest in the NFL. This is before any roster cuts, trades, or restructures. They are currently not set to pay a quarterback big money anytime soon as well, meaning they can afford to give Gainwell a nice extension. The Steelers already gave Warren a two-year, $11,904,000 extension last year. Overall, teams don't often pay running backs top money, let alone two. However, the Steelers have a situation unlike most teams.
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Pittsburgh Steelers running backs Jaylen Warren (left) and Kenneth Gainwell (right) celebrate a big time score against the Detroit Lions in Week 16 of the 2025 NFL regular season.
Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan has a big decision to make this offseason. He must decide whether to pay Gainwell after his stellar season in 2025, or let him walk. The move is a no-brainer for the Steelers in the eyes of many fans. With no franchise quarterback in sight, the Steelers must have a good ground game, and Gainwell helps that.
What do you think? Do you think Gainwell will decide to sign elsewhere in free agency? Will the Steelers give him the money he wants? Let us know in the comments below, or comment on any of our social media sites!
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