Kenneth Gainwell’s breakout season in Pittsburgh isn’t just a feel-good story-it’s turning into one of the most quietly impactful moves of the 2025 NFL offseason. After the Eagles let him walk in free agency, Gainwell signed a modest one-year deal with the Steelers. Now, with just a couple of weeks left in the regular season, it’s clear: Pittsburgh got one of the best bargains in football.
Gainwell was electric in primetime as the Steelers capped off Week 15 with a 28-15 win over the Dolphins. He racked up 80 yards on 13 carries and added 46 more through the air on seven receptions. In a game that featured plenty of star power, Gainwell stood out-not just for what he did with the ball, but for how seamlessly he’s become a go-to option in Pittsburgh’s offense.
After the win, quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t hold back his appreciation for the 25-year-old back. “I love playing with him.
He’s as smart as they come,” Rodgers said. “I still can not believe what we got him for.
I told him a long time ago my goal was to get him paid.”
And Rodgers might just be helping him do that.
Gainwell’s 2025 campaign has been the most productive of his career. He’s piled up 451 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while also hauling in 57 catches for 332 yards and two scores. He’s not just a change-of-pace back-he’s become a legitimate dual-threat weapon in an offense that needed exactly that kind of versatility.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, there’s a growing sense that letting Gainwell walk might’ve been a misstep. The Eagles went with A.J.
Dillon as their third running back behind Saquon Barkley and rookie Will Shipley. On paper, it made sense-a power back to complement the speed and finesse of Barkley and Shipley.
But Dillon’s season went sideways fast. After fumbling twice in a key matchup against the Giants, he was benched and hasn’t seen the field since.
The Eagles are still paying him $1.33 million to be inactive.
That’s a tough pill to swallow when you consider Gainwell’s deal in Pittsburgh is worth just $1.79 million. For $460,000 more, Philly could’ve retained a player who already knew the system, had chemistry with Jalen Hurts, and clearly had more to give.
Now, it’s fair to wonder if Gainwell’s success is simply a better fit in Pittsburgh’s scheme. Maybe offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo never fully unlocked his potential in Philly.
But it’s hard to ignore how much more dynamic the Eagles’ offense might look right now if Gainwell were still in midnight green. With Hurts under center, Gainwell could’ve been a reliable checkdown option, a screen-game threat, and a backfield mismatch against linebackers.
Instead, he’s doing all of that-for a playoff-contending Steelers team.
For Eagles fans, this might go down as one of those "what if" moves. What if they’d offered just a bit more?
What if they’d prioritized keeping a guy who was already producing in their system? Gainwell’s not just thriving-he’s proving he belonged all along.
The good news? Gainwell is playing his way into a well-deserved payday.
Whether that’s with Pittsburgh or another team, he’s shown he can be more than a role player. He can be a difference-maker.
And as the Steelers gear up for a playoff push, it’s clear that Gainwell is going to be a big part of it.