Steelers Likely Have Surprising X-Factor To Consider In Kenneth Gainwell Decision

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the midst of a very important offseason in 2026. It is the first under new head coach Mike McCarthy, and it will be interesting to see what some of the roster decisions are under the new coaching staff. There are a few potential cap casualties on the roster for Pittsburgh, mostly on the defensive side of the ball, while there are some players that are scheduled to be free agents. One notable player from the offense that the organization is going to have to make a decision on is running back Kenneth Gainwell. He had big year in 2025 while playing on what was basically the veteran minimum.

Pittsburgh signed Gainwell to a one-year deal worth just $1.79 million during the 2025 offseason. He was not expected to have the kind of production that he did, but he wound up being the team's MVP for his performances throughout the year. He outplayed his deal by a mile, and he is likely going to want to test out his value on the open market once free agency rolls around. The Steelers will have to contend with some other teams bidding for Gainwell's services, which could drive the price up for the running back. Beat writer Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Monday morning where he shared what might go into Pittsburgh's decision to retain the back.

"I think what Gainwell proved last year is that he can run the ball as well," Kaboly said. "If you do give him two for $16 (million), I think he will come back. It's just a matter of if someone else comes in and gives him more. You would think what he could do last year would carry over to what Rodgers and McCarthy like. You have to understand too, there's Kaleb Johnson just sitting there. Under new leadership, new eyes, sometimes it takes a while. You can't take a guy off the street, or third-round, whatever he was, and think he's going to be a star automatically. Maybe he just needed a year of seasoning -- a year in the NFL."

Kaleb Johnson was Pittsburgh's third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and he was expected to have a decent role in the offense during the 2025 season. That did not happen due to Jaylen Warren and the emergence of Gainwell, and the rookie running back had some errors early on in the year that put him in the doghouse.

What Kaboly is saying is that the new coaching staff and the organization may want to give Johnson a chance to prove himself, and that would be hard to do with Gainwell back on the roster. The young running back is also on a rookie deal, which means he will count less against the cap. He can still blossom into a great player for Pittsburgh, and a new coaching staff might be refreshing change for Johnson.

Johnson saw limited opportunities in Pittsburgh after his massive blunder against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2 that essentially handed Seattle a touchdown and the win. He ran the ball just 28 times for 69 yards during his rookie year, but he should get worked into the offense more during his second season with the team. This is a factor to consider as free agency grows closer, as Pittsburgh may not want to pay what Gainwell is worth as his market gets driven up by other teams joining in.

Steelers Should Give Kaleb Johnson A Chance To Flourish

While Gainwell had a great season in 2025, Warren can do a lot of the things that Gainwell did for the offense. If Gainwell were to sign elsewhere, it would allow Johnson to have the opportunity to carry the ball more and regain some of his confidence. He was a highly-touted back coming into the league, and his talent didn't just disappear. He should be given a chance to prove himself, but that might mean Gainwell playing elsewhere in 2026.

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