Running backs: Kenneth Gainwell, Kaleb Johnson, Jaylen Warren, Max Hurleman, Lew Nichols.
The Steelers had signed Kenneth Gainwell to a one-year contract on the second official day of free agency so that he could complement Jaylen Warren in the backfield.
Gainwell did that. Extremely well. He was second to Warren's 958 rushing yards with a career-high 537 rushing yards.
But Gainwell did much more. He was the Steelers' most targeted receiver (85), and his 73 receptions led the team by 14.
He was second with 486 receiving yards and finished tied with Warren for the team lead with 8 touchdowns. Gainwell's career-high 1,023 yards from scrimmage were second to Warren's 1,291.
But there was more. Gainwell led the Steelers with 26 kickoff returns for 633 yards. He also made 3 tackles on special teams, and even forced a fumble.
And, yes, there was more. Gainwell was selected the Steelers Most Valuable Player in a vote by his teammates.
"It's not a vote that any of us take lightly," said T.J. Watt, himself a five-time team MVP. "It's a huge honor. Kenny G, he's made so many plays."
One of those plays will become a staple of Steelers highlight reels for years to come. Against the Detroit Lions, late in the first half, Gainwell got a late message from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to motion right and run a go route down the sideline. Rodgers threw it deep, but Gainwell was thrown to the ground by linebacker Alex Anzalone. A flag was thrown for defensive pass interference, but Gainwell, lying on the ground, made the catch anyway. Aware he hadn't been touched, Gainwell got up and ran 20 more yards for the tying score, a 45-yarder, with two seconds left in the half. The visiting Steelers went on to upset the Lions.
"Unbelievable catch," said Rodgers. "And our other back, he had a heck of a game, too."
The other back, of course, was Warren.
Prior to the season, Warren became the first Steelers running back since his cousin, Willie Parker, to sign a contract extension with the team. Warren responded with a career year. His 958 yards on 211 carries and 6 rushing touchdowns were all career highs. He added 40 catches for 333 yards and 2 receiving touchdowns.
Against the Lions, Warren rushed for a career-high 143 yards, but that may not have been his best game of 2025. In the first game with the Bengals, Warren rushed for 127 yards, and added 31 receiving yards for a career-high 158 yards from scrimmage.
Warren's best play of his best season? According to Rodgers, it was his 65-yard catch-and-run against the Seahawks, in which Warren showed off not only his speed, vision, and balance, but his punishing style of running.
"One of the greatest catch-and-runs I've seen," Rodgers said.
Rodgers praised another of Warren's plays, this one against the Packers.
"I threw out in the flat," Rodgers said, "and if you pause the film there's like three guys in the way. He makes all three miss and then runs over the safety for a 12-yard gain and just comes back to the huddle like 'yeah, hmmm, normal, nothing crazy happened.'
"That's what I love about him. There's the expectation when he gets the ball that something great is going to happen. His energy like that is very infectious for an offense."
Warren's physical style of running has become his signature.
"That's part of the reason why I do it," Warren said, "just to, you know, set a tone, let them know what kind of night it's gonna be."
Gainwell can become a free agent when the fiscal new year begins on March 11.
Next up would likely be Kaleb Johnson, whom the Steelers drafted out of Iowa in the third round last April.
Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards in his final college season. As a rookie with the Steelers, he was used sparingly and finished with 69 yards on 28 carries. He also caught a pass for 9 yards.
The Steelers' futures roster includes a pair of running backs who were part of the practice squad last season.
Lew Nichols, a former NCAA Division One rushing champ while at Central Michigan, was active in one game. He played on 6 special teams snaps and made a tackle.
Also signed to a future contract in January was Max Hurleman, a former special teams star for 2024 national runner-up Notre Dame.
