The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed Kenneth Gainwell to a one-year deal, taking him away from the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, but keeping him in the state of Pennsylvania. Gainwell has spent the first four years of his career with the Eagles after getting drafted by Philadelphia in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Gainwell has been a backup in Philadelphia for his entire career, accounting for 1,906 yards and 13 touchdowns. He will likely remain in a limited role in Pittsburgh with the Steelers.
After backing up Miles Sanders, D’Andre Swift, and Saquon Barkley during his Eagles tenure, Gainwell joins Jaylen Warren in the Steelers’ running back room. The team is hoping to recoup some of the production lost with Najee Harris signing with the Los Angeles Chargers earlier in free agency. No additional financial details on the deal are available at this time.
Kenneth Gainwell To Join Pittsburgh Steelers
After losing Harris to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Pittsburgh Steelers are signing a Super Bowl champion to replace him. Gainwell is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year deal according to Jordan Schultz. Gainwell has been in Philadelphia with the Eagles for the last four seasons, serving as a backup for Sanders, Swift, and Barkley. Gainwell is set to split time with and support Warren in the Pittsburgh running back room in 2025.
Gainwell became a lower priority for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles after they gave Barkley a lucrative two-year, $41 million contract extension earlier this offseason. Conversely, when the Pittsburgh Steelers declined to pick up Najee Harris’s fifth-year option after the regular season, they developed a need for a second running back to pair with Warren. He was retained on a restricted free-agent tender.
Since being selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Memphis, Gainwell gained 1,906 yards and scored 13 touchdowns in four seasons. He has been durable, playing in 66 games over that span. Gainwell is a dual-threat running back, rushing for 1,185 yards at 4.2 yards per carry and catching the ball out of the backfield for 721 yards at 7.1 yards per reception. Gainwell turns 26 years old later this week.
Final Thoughts
This move says more about Harris than Gainwell in my opinion. The Pittsburgh Steelers have seen Harris for four years and opted to not retain him and see if they can replicate his production at a lower price. Warren is going to be the clear starter entering training camp and offseason workouts in 2025, ending the tandem with Harris who has been featured in the Pittsburgh backfield for the last few seasons.
While no financial details have been released about Gainwell’s contract, it is almost assuredly a cheaper dollar figure than the potential $9.25 million sum Harris commanded from the Los Angeles Chargers.
