NFL star Kenneth Gainwell has adopted a new name after agreeing to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a $14 million per year deal during the free agency window
13:35 ET, 13 Mar 2026
Kenneth Gainwell
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Kenny Gainwell recently joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Image: Getty Images)
NFL star Kenneth Gainwell has adopted a new name after signing a $14 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After spending the first four seasons of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles as a complementary running back, Gainwell signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason. He enjoyed a breakout season with Pittsburgh in 2025 and will now join a backfield that includes Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker.
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Several factors influenced his decision to sign with the Buccaneers, but it appears quarterback Baker Mayfield may have played a key role. It comes after his new teammate Emeka Egbuka was dragged into a social media controversy.
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In a related development, Gainwell has officially adopted a new name and will now go by Kenny Gainwell moving forward.
Initially expected to serve as the No. 2 option behind Jaylen Warren, Gainwell quickly carved out a larger role on offense for the Steelers. When he entered free agency, it became increasingly clear that Gainwell would seek a bigger opportunity elsewhere.
That search ultimately led him to to Tampa, though he will again join a crowded backfield led by Bucky Irving. Even so, Gainwell is eager to settle into the offense and recently said he is “excited” to work alongside Mayfield.
“I’m just excited to play with him,” Gainwell said on “The Insiders.” “I know his attitude towards the game and how he plays football, that’s my mindset, too.
"I go into this thing full-steam ahead and just try to play football as hard as I can. I love his attitude towards the game … I want to play the same way.”
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Irving remains the Tampa Bay's top option at running back for now, but he is coming off a difficult 2025 campaign. Irving missed seven games due to injury, and his yards per carry also declined significantly.
On his performance last season which earned him the Steelers MVP, Gainwell said: "When I went into last season with the deal I had, I was like okay let me go out here and try to prove myself and prove to everyone that don't know me or the things that I can do on the field and go out there and show them that I can do it.
"And when the opportunity came for me to do that, I did. And I showed up every game that I got an opportunity to get a ball in my hand."
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On developing a relationship with his new coach Todd Bowles, the 26-year-old added: "I met him this morning. It was, it was a great experience talking with him at breakfast and it was cool.
"I'm ready to play for him. I'm ready to, you know, experience what's going on and definitely ready to play ball for a guy that loves football too"