The Pittsburgh Steelers have added a major weapon to the backfield.
Veteran running back Rico Dowdle is signing a two-year, $12.25 million deal with the Steelers, according to NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero.
Dowdle will replace the departed Kenneth Gainwell in the backfield in Pittsburgh. Gainwell signed a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency after spending a single season with the Steelers. He was named the Steelers' MVP during his lone season with the franchise.
The Steelers will be the third team in three seasons for Dowdle, who ran for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns with the Carolina Panthers in 2025. He spent the previous four seasons as a member of the Dallas Cowboys after going undrafted in 2020.
In Pittsburgh, Dowdle will join a backfield that also includes Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson. It will be up to new head coach Mike McCarthy to determine how the workload will be split between the backs.
The biggest question for the Steelers now is who will be handing Dowdle and co. the ball in 2026. Aaron Rodgers has yet to make a decision regarding his status for next season, and it doesn't seem like Pittsburgh has much of a backup plan in place if Rodgers opts to retire.
Perhaps the addition of Dowdle, and wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr., who the Steelers traded for, will be enough to entice Rodgers to return for one more season.
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