Could Mike McCarthy Bring a Familiar Face to the Steelers’ Backfield?
The Pittsburgh Steelers head into 2026 with a new head coach in Mike McCarthy and a running back room that was already one of the more productive tandems in the league last season. Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell delivered a potent one-two punch in 2025, but there’s growing chatter that McCarthy could be eyeing a reunion with a former player - and potentially reshaping the backfield dynamic in the process.
Enter Rico Dowdle.
Dowdle, 27, has quietly put together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons - first with the Cowboys and then with the Panthers - and he did it with remarkable consistency. We’re talking nearly identical numbers across both years, right down to the number of carries and receptions. That kind of production, especially across two different offensive systems, speaks volumes about Dowdle’s reliability and versatility.
Last offseason, Dowdle didn’t exactly command a massive free-agent market. He signed a $2.75 million deal with Carolina and then earned another $2.75 million in incentives. But with the Panthers leaning more heavily on Chuba Hubbard late in the year, Dowdle could once again be looking for a new home - and McCarthy might be tempted to bring in a player he knows well.
Still, this isn’t a simple plug-and-play scenario. Pittsburgh already has two backs who’ve proven they can carry the load - and they’re not just bodies on the depth chart.
Jaylen Warren is locked in through 2027 after signing a two-year extension last offseason. And Kenneth Gainwell?
He was arguably the Steelers’ MVP in 2025.
Gainwell’s numbers tell the story: 537 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground, plus a team-leading 73 receptions for 486 yards and three more scores through the air. That’s not just good production - that’s high-level dual-threat impact. He was a safety valve, a playmaker, and a matchup nightmare out of the backfield all season long.
And it didn’t go unnoticed in the locker room.
“Kenny’s been unbelievable in the passing game. Just unbelievable,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“And he’s so damn smart. I was telling him, ‘I wish I had played with him for 10 years.’
Just because the kind of player that he is. You just love playing with that guy.”
That’s high praise from a future Hall of Famer - and it underscores why the Steelers will likely do everything they can to keep Gainwell in black and gold. There’s talk that a two-year, $6 million deal could get it done, but after a breakout year like that, fans will believe it when the ink is dry.
If Gainwell does walk - if another team opens the checkbook and lures him away - then Dowdle becomes a much more realistic option. His track record, familiarity with McCarthy’s system, and proven production make him a strong candidate to pair with Warren. But that’s a big “if,” and the Steelers know what they have in Gainwell.
Dowdle, for his part, has carved out a solid pro career since going undrafted in 2020. He’s racked up 2,540 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, along with 95 receptions for 690 yards and six scores. He’s done it without much fanfare, but the numbers don’t lie - he’s a legitimate contributor who could thrive in the right situation.
For now, the Steelers’ backfield remains one of the most intriguing storylines of their offseason. With McCarthy at the helm and decisions looming on Gainwell’s future, don’t be surprised if this group looks a little different come Week 1. But whether it’s Gainwell, Dowdle, or someone else, Pittsburgh’s ground game is shaping up to be a key piece of their 2026 identity.