Fresh off a team MVP season in which he was a dynamic dual-threat weapon offensively, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell is set to hit the open market in free agency in early March.
He took advantage of a one-year prove-it deal with the Steelers and should be able to parlay that into a nice pay day on the open market this time around.
The Steelers want that to be in Pittsburgh, though.
GM Omar Khan, speaking to local reporters — including Steelers Depot’s Joe Clark — Tuesday from the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, stated that the Steelers want Gainwell back, and that the veteran running back knows that as well.
“Yeah, Kenny was great to have around and he knows we want him back and we’ve been in communication with his people,” Khan said of Gainwell.
The Steelers signed Gainwell to a one-year, $1.79 million deal in free agency last offseason, bringing him across the state from Philadelphia with a chance to see a larger role in the same backfield with Jaylen Warren. Though the Steelers ultimately handed Warren an extension right before the start of the season, Gainwell emerged as a dependable playmaker.
He rushed for a career-high 537 yards and five touchdowns, and led the Steelers in receptions with 73 for 486 yards and three touchdowns. That earned him the team’s MVP award, and now has him set to cash in.
Pro Football Focus projects Gainwell to land a two-year, $8 million deal with $4 million guaranteed. That won’t break the bank for the Steelers, and even with a coaching staff change from last year featuring new head coach Mike McCarthy and a slew of assistants, Gainwell seems to be a priority for the Steelers.
He should be, too, considering what he can do in both aspects of the game offensively. Though he’s on the smaller side, he proved last season he can handle a heavy workload between the tackles and averaged a healthy 4.7 yards per carry. While the yards per reception weren’t all that good (6.7), he showed great hands and the ability to create after the catch.
That will play well in McCarthy’s offense, should the Steelers re-sign him.
Khan made it clear the franchise wants him back. Now it’s about getting a deal done and securing the veteran running back in the Steel City to continue pairing him with Warren moving forward.
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