Steelers' Kenneth Gainwell Has Sincere Message For Anyone Doubting Him And Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell bet on himself in the 2025 offseason. The ball carrier signed a one-year contract with the Steelers for just $1.79 million without garnering too much interest. This is now Gainwell's fifth season in the NFL. He spent his first four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, spending some of that time as the backup to superstar running back Saquon Barkley. Gainwell bet on himself this offseason, and that decision looks like it's going to pay off in a major way for both Gainwell and the Steelers.

The Steelers have clinched their 23rd consecutive non-losing season and 19th under head coach Mike Tomlin, but they have bigger things in mind. The Steelers currently sit at 9-6, riding high on a three-game winning streak. 

These games were against formidable teams as well, with wins over their arch-rival, the Baltimore Ravens, the Miami Dolphins, and, most recently, the Detroit Lions in Week 16. All three teams at the time of the game had playoff aspirations; these wins were against desperate teams, similar to the Steelers, who were putting it all on the line in hopes of extending their season to the playoffs. 

The NFL regular season is about timing; you want to peak at the right time and play your best football later in the season. Tomlin has this down to a science. The murders row of opponents the Steelers have to play to end their season with will only raise their confidence if they can make it to the playoffs. 

This is a veteran-led team, from their future Hall of Fame head coach to their future Hall of Fame quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, and this is a collective that's starting to believe in itself and carry itself with a swagger that fans haven't seen yet this season. Gainwell wants the running back rooms to get its props, as he noted this in his post-game press conference on Sunday.

"This running back room is special," Gainwell said. "I talk about that a lot, and I don't think that we get the credit that we need to. We haven't been doing what we need to do early on in the season, but it don't matter. It takes us doing what we have to do now in December and then going into the playoffs."

This season had its fair share of peaks and valleys for the Steelers. After a thunderous 4 and 1 start to the season, they faltered down to 6 and 6. The Steelers responded to this as one would expect and hope a team of veterans would, with an immediate three-game winning streak and a return to the top of the AFC North in the process. For the Steelers, their 2025 campaign will be remembered for how they've responded to adversity, and so far they've responded with flying colors.

Steelers' Balanced Offensive Attack Continues to Dominate

The Steelers offense was firing on all cylinders in their 29-24 week 16 win over the Lions. Rodgers had another great performance, going for 266 yards on 27 for 41 passing with a touchdown. The rushing attack for the Steelers, however, was the stunner. Going into the game, all the talk was about the Lions' rushing attack, and for good reason. 

Fans know just how how dominant Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been throughout the course of his young career, adding 1,102 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns in 2025. On top of this, they also have former Bears running back David Montgomery, which formed the duo Sonic and Knuckles, due to Gibbs' blazing speed and Montgomery's bruising style. 

The Steelers held the two to a combined 15 rushing yards, by far the Lions' lowest rushing total of the season, while the Steelers ran for an impressive 230 yards behind Gainwell and running back Jaylen Warren, who rushed for 143 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns. This game was truly won in the trenches.

The Steelers were widely perceived as massive underdogs, with the spread closing to a full touchdown in their week 16 road game against the Lions. Just like with their rushing attack, the Steelers are looking for their respect; they'll settle for playoff football.

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