Truth Bomb Sheds Light On Steelers' Decision To Sign Rico Dowdle Over Kenneth Gainwell

The Pittsburgh Steelers had no problem allowing the team's Most Valuable Player from 2025, Kenneth Gainwell, to walk in free agency. The do-it-all running back signed a lucrative deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but General Manager Omar Khan and new head coach Mike McCarthy had a very quick solution to bolster the depth chart. Rico Dowdle was there for the taking and inked a two-year deal to play in the Steel City. He should complement Jaylen Warren very well, and the rushing attack has the framework to be one of the best throughout the entire AFC.

Gainwell recently caught the attention of fans during his introductory press conference with the Buccaneers. He noted that he wanted to sign with Tampa back in 2025, so it's almost as if he was never going to consider returning to Pittsburgh anyway. That's one theory, but it's also true that he was offered a generous amount of money to head to the NFC South.

Dowdle has some familiarity with the Steelers' coaching staff, as he played for McCarthy when the two were with the Dallas Cowboys. When one connects the dots, there are plenty of reasons as to why everything shook out the way it did. Only time will tell if Pittsburgh got the better end of the deal by bringing in Dowdle, instead of aggressively trying to re-sign Gainwell.

During his weekly fan chat, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette took time to respond to questions about what is happening inside the Steelers' building. Someone was curious as to why Dowdle was the choice over anyone else, particularly Gainwell, and while the reporter mentioned money and a prior relationship with McCarthy as reasons, something else stood out.

"It always come down to money," Fittipaldo wrote. "This was Gainwell's first chance for a big money deal. And he got it. But it also comes down to fit. And I think Rico Dowdle is a better fit for Mike McCarthy than Gainwell. They have a history together in Dallas and there is a comfort level there for McCarthy."

The Steelers have committed roughly $12.25 million over two seasons to Dowdle, so the money was certainly there for Gainwell if McCarthy and Co. wanted to keep him in Pittsburgh. Whatever vision the new head coach has for his offense, it's evident that the newly-signed ball carrier makes a ton more sense schematically compared to Gainwell.

Warren is still expected to be the lead back, and it's very possible that McCarthy had a say in whether Gainwell was to be pursued or not. Dowdle is a powerful ball carrier that can certainly produce at a high level. When it came to a second-string contributor, it seems to have made a lot of sense for the front office to sign someone who has not just proven himself, but worked with McCarthy and in his system in the past.

Running the ball is likely to be a priority for the Steelers' new-look offense, but McCarthy is also known for constantly using his wide receiving weapons. This could mean that the franchise needs less of a pass-catching back, and more of a downhill runner. That in and of itself explains why Dowdle got the nod, rather than Pittsburgh trying to do everything in its power to bring back Gainwell.

Steelers' Offense Should Have A Different Vibe To It In 2026

McCarthy will be running the offensive show for Pittsburgh moving forward, and that is something that hasn't occurred in the Steel City in a very long time. Head coaches have often been focused on the defensive side of the ball, but that will change with the veteran play-caller in charge. This points to using receivers more, and running backs remaining in the backfield. Hence, the Dowdle signing makes a lot more sense as Gainwell walked out the door.

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