Jaylen Warren is the hardest running back in the NFL to bring down. This claim is true beyond the eye test — the numbers prove it.
According to a chart produced by Ryan J. Heath and shared by Jake Tribbey on X, Warren is in a league of his own when it comes to running through contact and creating plays on his own. He is the No. 1 RB at forcing missed tackles per touch, and the No. 2 RB in yards-after-contact per touch. Simply put, nobody is even close.
Missed tackles forced vs Yards After Contact per touch…
– Rico Dowdle deserves that bell cow role
– Monangai might shadow realm Swift
– Weekly Jaylen Warren appreciation post
What else stands out? pic.twitter.com/j690n7hfGl
— Jake Tribbey (@JakeTribbey) November 6, 2025
Running backs such as Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, Cam Skattebo, and Javonte Williams have been capturing many of the headlines. But Warren is quietly the best-positioned player on this chart.
This isn’t a flash in the pan for him, either. Back in 2023, during his last fully healthy season, Warren was third in broken tackles with 27. He was fourth in yards after contact per attempt with 2.4 per carry, despite backing up Najee Harris.
Here is just one of many examples of Warren bouncing off several tackles in the same play. He juked out or ran through five different tackles for a 65-yard gain. Aaron Rodgers called it one of the best catch-and-run plays he has ever seen in over 20 years of being in the NFL.
So why is Warren only 21st in total yards from scrimmage for running backs this year? For one, he’s only played in seven games while many players above him have played eight or nine games. Additionally, Pittsburgh’s offensive line was in complete disarray for three of those seven games. They have vastly improved since the beginning of the season, especially with the emergence of the jumbo package.
As long as Warren stays healthy, he should be set up for the best stretch of his career over the back half of this season.
Recommended for you