The Steelers signed running back Rico Dowdle to a two-year contract.
Dowdle, who is entering his seventh NFL season, spent the 2025 season with the Carolina Panthers after playing five seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Dowdle has appeared in 69 games, starting 26, with 567 carries for 2,540 yards, a 4.5-yard average, and 10 touchdowns. He also has 95 receptions for 690 yards, a 7.3-yard average, and six touchdowns.
The last two seasons he turned in 1,000-yard performances, with 1,076 rushing yards in 2025 and a career-high 1,079 yards in 2024.
In 2025, Dowdle started 11 of 17 games he appeared in for the Panthers, carrying the ball 236 times for 1,076 yards, a 4.6-yard average, while adding a career-high six touchdowns. He also had 39 receptions for 297 yards, a 7.6-yard average, and one receiving touchdown.
In addition, Dowdle returned eight kickoffs for 197 yards, a 24.6-yard average, including a long of 30 yards.
Dowdle had 23 carries for a career-high 206 yards, a nine-yard average, and a one-yard touchdown in a Week five game against the Miami Dolphins. He was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week, while adding a career-long run of 53 yards. He finished the game with 234 yards from scrimmage.
He followed that performance with a single-game high 30 carries for 183 yards in Week 6 against Dallas. He also had four receptions for 56 yards, including a career-long 36-yard touchdown catch.
Dowdle had a breakout season in 2024 for the Cowboys, appearing in 16 games, with 15 starts. He carried the ball 235 times for a career-high 1,079 yards, a 4.6-yard average, and two touchdowns. He added 39 receptions for 249 yards, a 6.4-yard average, and a career-high three touchdown receptions.
With his 1,000-yard rushing season in 2024, he became only the 19th undrafted player to rush for 1,000 or more yards in a season.
In 2023, he appeared in 16 games and was second on the team with 89 carries for 261 yards, a 4.1-yard average, and two touchdowns. He also had 17 receptions for 144 yards, an 8.5-yard average, and two touchdowns.
He saw limited action in 2021 and 2022, spending the 2021 season on the Reserve/Injured List, and appearing in five games on special teams in 2022 before being placed on the Reserve/Injured List.
Dowdle made the Cowboys 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie free agent, and appeared in 15 games in 2020, mainly on special teams. He had seven carries for 24 yards, a 3.4-yard average, and returned four kickoffs for an average of 38 yards, including a long of 64 yards.
Dowdle played college football at South Carolina where he appeared in 39 games, starting 29. He had 428 carries for 2,167 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also caught 62 passes for 483 yards and three touchdowns.
RICO DOWDLE'S SINGLE-GAME HIGHS: RUSHING/RECEIVING
Rush Attempts 30 vs. Dallas Cowboys, Oct 12, 2025
Rushing Yards 206 vs. Miami Dolphins, Oct 05, 2025
Rushing Average 9.0 vs. Miami Dolphins, Oct 05, 2025
Longest Runs 53 vs. Miami Dolphins, Oct 05, 2025
Rushing TDs 2 at Green Bay Packers, Nov 02, 2025
Receptions 5 at Atlanta Falcons, Nov 16, 2025
...2 more at 5.
Receiving Yards 56 vs. Dallas Cowboys, Oct 12, 2025
Receiving Average 18.0 at Washington Commanders, Jan 07, 2024
Longest Receptions 36t vs. Dallas Cowboys, Oct 12, 2025
Receiving TDs 1 vs. Dallas Cowboys, Oct 12, 2025
...5 more at 1.
All-Purpose Yards 239 vs. Dallas Cowboys, Oct 12, 2025
Kickoff Returns 4 at New England Patriots, Sep 28, 2025
Kickoff Return Yards 100 at New England Patriots, Sep 28, 2025
Longest Kickoff Return 64 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, Nov 08, 2020
Kickoff Return Average 29.3 vs. San Francisco 49ers, Dec 20, 2020
Special Teams Tackles 2 at New York Giants, Jan 03, 2021
Most TDs 2 at Green Bay Packers, Nov 02, 2025
Scrimmage Yards 239 vs. Dallas Cowboys, Oct 12, 2025
SINGLE-GAME HIGHS - POSTSEASON: RUSHING/RECEIVING
Rush Attempts 5 vs. Los Angeles Rams, Jan 10, 2026
2 vs. Green Bay Packers, Jan 14, 2024
Rushing Yards 11 vs. Green Bay Packers, Jan 14, 2024
9 vs. Los Angeles Rams, Jan 10, 2026
Longest Runs 9 vs. Green Bay Packers, Jan 14, 2024
8 vs. Los Angeles Rams, Jan 10, 2026
2 vs. Green Bay Packers, Jan 14, 2024
1 vs. Los Angeles Rams, Jan 10, 2026
Receptions 2 vs. Green Bay Packers, Jan 14, 2024
1 vs. Los Angeles Rams, Jan 10, 2026
Receiving Yards 14 vs. Green Bay Packers, Jan 14, 2024
6 vs. Los Angeles Rams, Jan 10, 2026
Longest Receptions 10 vs. Green Bay Packers, Jan 14, 2024
6 vs. Los Angeles Rams, Jan 10, 2026
4 vs. Green Bay Packers, Jan 14, 2024
All-Purpose Yards 25 vs. Green Bay Packers, Jan 14, 2024
15 vs. Los Angeles Rams, Jan 10, 2026
Scrimmage Yards 25 vs. Green Bay Packers, Jan 14, 2024
15 vs. Los Angeles Rams, Jan 10, 2026
Steelers signed free agent cornerback Rico Dowdle
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle walks across the field during warm ups before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (23) celebrates scoring against the Seattle Seahawks during a preseason NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 19, 2023, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (23) celebrates after scoring against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (23) gestures after running for a first down against the Washington Commanders during the second half, Sunday, January 7, 2024, in Landover, Md. Dallas won 38-10. (AP Photo/Jess Rapfogel)
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (23) finds runing room after catching a pass as Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Christian Izien (29) and Jamel Dean (35) combine to make the stop in the second half of an NFL football game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle walks across the field during warm ups before an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) runs the ball for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) runs with the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during an NFL football game, Sunday Dec. 28, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) looks to avoid Los Angeles Rams cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. (1) during an NFL wild card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Westerholt)
