Steelers x-factor
Steelers x-factor
The Pittsburgh Steelers project to be a more explosive offense under first-year head coach Mike McCarthy, with many believing that success will come through the passing game led by 42-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
But just because McCarthy has a history of throwing the football and scheming up a successful offense throughout his head coaching tenure in Green Bay and Dallas doesn’t mean the run game isn’t important.
Instead, McCarthy stated this offseason he wants to be a physical football team, one built to win late in the year on the strength of the run game. To do that, the Steelers need veteran free agent signee Rico Dowdle to emerge as a dependable piece in the backfield alongside Jaylen Warren.
Knowing that, ESPN’s Benjamin Solak named Dowdle as the Steelers’ X factor in 2026.
“Dowdle is a no-nonsense runner (sixth in success rate over the same time frame) who doesn’t necessarily break tackles and create explosives at the rate of an elite back,” Solak writes of the Steelers’ running back. “But Warren is at his best as a ball carrier when he’s using his fresh legs in relief of a grinder to hit the bigger plays later in a drive.
“If Dowdle fills his role well behind this Steelers offensive line, which could be the best he has played behind, Pittsburgh has an avenue to defensive victories thanks to a reliable rushing attack that controls the clock and stays ahead of the sticks.”
Dowdle has a history of success under McCarthy, churning out a 1,079-yard season in 2024 for the Cowboys, putting him on the map as a playmaking running back. Of course, McCarthy wasn’t brought back for the 2025 season in Dallas, and Dowdle signed with the Carolina Panthers, leading to another 1,000-yard season for the former South Carolina standout.
Now reunited with McCarthy in Pittsburgh, Dowdle has chance to make NFL history in 2026. If he eclipses 1,000 yards on the ground again, he’ll become the first running back to reach 1,000 yards in three straight seasons with three different teams. He has a real chance to do that in McCarthy’s scheme splitting the workload with Warren.
How that split looks in games remains to be seen, but the Steelers have said they’ll ride the hot hand. Dowdle has shown in the past his ability to get hot and rip off monster games. He’s in a better situation in Pittsburgh now, and that could lead to another big season.