As the Pittsburgh Steelers head into the 2026 offseason, one of the key questions looming over the front office is what to do at running back. Jaylen Warren is still under contract and remains a solid option in the backfield, but Kenneth Gainwell - fresh off a career-best season and earning team MVP honors in 2025 - is set to hit free agency. His return is anything but certain.
Enter Rico Dowdle, a name that’s starting to gain traction as a potential fit in Pittsburgh.
Dowdle, currently a pending free agent after a season with the Carolina Panthers, might not be the flashiest name on the market, but he’s got the kind of resume that makes you take a closer look - especially when you connect the dots to Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy. Back in 2024, Dowdle had some of his best NFL moments while serving as the lead back in McCarthy’s Dallas Cowboys offense. That familiarity could be a key factor if Pittsburgh decides to pursue him.
McCarthy has long favored a two-back system - think thunder and lightning - and Dowdle could be the early-down bruiser to complement Warren’s versatility in the passing game. With Gainwell’s future uncertain, that pairing could give the Steelers a balanced and dynamic backfield without missing a beat.
Dowdle’s 2025 campaign in Carolina started with a bang. After taking over the starting job from Chuba Hubbard, he rattled off a five-game stretch that turned heads - topping 100 rushing yards three times and eclipsing 200 scrimmage yards twice. It looked like he had finally found his groove as a feature back.
But then came the downturn. As the season wound down and the Panthers headed into the playoffs, Dowdle’s role sharply diminished. He wasn’t shy about how that sat with him.
“That definitely is a factor,” Dowdle said, when asked about how his reduced touches could affect his future with the Panthers. “There’s options for me. I just want to be a guy who can go out there and just get the bulk [of the carries].”
That comment speaks volumes. Dowdle clearly sees himself as more than a rotational piece - he wants to be the guy.
Whether he’ll get that chance is another question. His late-season fade might give some teams pause about handing him a full workload, but for a team like Pittsburgh, where a shared backfield is the norm, he might be an ideal fit.
And let’s not forget the history. McCarthy knows what Dowdle can do in his system. That familiarity, combined with Dowdle’s ability to contribute in both the run and pass game, makes this a move that could make a lot of sense - especially if Gainwell ends up elsewhere.
Financially, Dowdle is projected to command a two-year deal in the neighborhood of $13 million. That’s a reasonable price tag for a back coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, even with the late-season dip.
If the Steelers are looking to keep their ground game humming and maintain the flexibility they had with Gainwell and Warren, Dowdle could be the next man up. He’s got the experience, the production, and the connection to the head coach. Now it’s just a matter of whether Pittsburgh sees him as the right piece to round out their backfield puzzle.