The Pittsburgh Steelers are making their final preparations for Monday night's battle with the Miami Dolphins at Acrisure Stadium. The Steelers are once again playing meaningful football in December as they look to continue moving in the right direction with the postseason on the horizon. One area where the Steelers have lacked in recent weeks has been in the rushing department. Pittsburgh is 29th in the league in rushing, and one former coach thinks the inability to run the ball is a major cause for concern with the postseason right around the corner.
AP
Steelers' running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell celebrate after a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers.
Todd Haley was hired as the Steelers' offensive coordinator in 2012 following the dismissal of Bruce Arians. Haley called plays in Pittsburgh for six seasons, helping guide the Steelers to be one of the best offenses in the NFL with the help of the Killer Bs.
Pittsburgh had one of the most balanced offensive attacks in the league (and possibly league history) with the likes of Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, and Ben Roethlisberger. Haley was let go following the 2017 AFC Divisional Round loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
NFL.com
Steelers' Todd Haley talks to QB Ben Roethlisberger.
Haley now spends time talking in the sports media world, and he recently made a guest appearance on the Kaboly + Mack podcast with Mark Kaboly and Chris Mack. Haley was asked about his concerns revolving around the Steelers' run game or lack thereof over the last few weeks. With December football usually meaning cold weather, tighter games, and fewer explosive plays, the running game often becomes more important than ever.
"I think we've seen enough flashes where they've put the combination of [Kenneth] Gainwell and Jaylen Warren together to think that it can be done, but yeah it is concerning this time of year," Haley said. "We know that's what this time of the year is about."
The Steelers have found ways to get both Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren involved on offense through the passing game, but neither has been able to get much going over the past few weeks on the ground. Screens, check-downs, and swing passes have helped move the chains at times, but that’s not the same as lining up and consistently winning at the line of scrimmage.
When the Steelers can’t run the ball, it puts more pressure on Aaron Rodgers and makes the offense seem one-dimensional. In their last two games, the Steelers have combined for just 92 rushing yards. Steelers football has always been about ground and pound, but that element certainly has not been present, at least consistently in 2025.
The Steelers have had their moments in the run game, including Gainwell's 99-yard, two-touchdown performance in Ireland, Warren's 127-yard night against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7, as well as the two combining for 160 yards against the Chicago Bears in Week 12.
Outside of those three performances, the run game has been lackluster to say the least. Those flashes show that the potential is there, which makes the inconsistency even more frustrating. It’s not a talent issue as much as it feels like timing, execution, and sometimes commitment.
Taylor Ollason / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hands the ball to running back Jaylen Warren during Pittsburgh's 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 13 of the 2025 NFL Regular Season.
Steelers Must Establish The Run Game Against The Dolphins
Running the football is crucial late in the season, and nobody knows that better than the Steelers. As the temperatures continue to drop, Pittsburgh has to find a way to consistently pound the rock, and there is no better example for that than this week's matchup with the Dolphins. Cold weather, tough field conditions, and a primetime atmosphere at Acrisure Stadium all point toward a physical style of football.
"This game is going to be a huge game, to kind of see exactly how the Steelers come out and play with the weather and the cold. That [the running game] is going to be the key thing other than turnovers. Running the football in this game is going to be critical," Haley said.
If the Steelers want to have a shot at a deep postseason run, getting Gainwell and Warren going is the first step. We've seen how electric the passing attack can be, and we've seen how good the Steelers' defense can be on any given Sunday. Now it is time for the run game to do their part.
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