According to Jordan Schultz and other NFL sources, the Pittsburgh Steelers are landing star running back Rico Dowdle.
Rico Dowdle is fresh off back-to-back seasons with 1,000 rushing yards. After a 1,000-yard season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, Dowdle signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers and reached the 1,000-yard rushing mark again on 236 carries. He spent four seasons in Dallas, where he primarily featured as a backup option, but he got his opportunity to get the bell cow load of carries, and has not disappointed.
Reports late Monday night indicated that the contract is two-years worth up to $12.25 million for Dowdle. A good value deal for Pittsburgh, which just lost Kenneth Gainwell (another good value running back) in free agency.
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Rico Dowdle Lands with Steelers
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This is yet another big loss for the Carolina Panthers, who have now lost center Cade Mays and running back Rico Dowdle on the offensive side of the ball.
In 567 carries, Dowdle has 2540 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns in his career. Dowdle had a few game stretch in 2025 where he could not be tackled, and recorded multiple 200-yard performances in single games.
Now, he will join the Steelers, who needed to replenish running back production after Kenneth Gainwell walked out the door in free agency. Dowdle, 27, played his college football at South Carolina and is an undrafted player.
After a one-year, $2.75 million deal with Carolina, Rico Dowdle bet on himself before testing free agency again. He’s also reunited with a familiar face in Pittsburgh.
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Rico Dowdle Reuniting with Former Head Coach Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy is the new head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. From 2020-2023, McCarthy was the head coach in Dallas, where Dowdle played.
It appears that Dowdle will be the lead back with the Steelers, but Dowdle’s departure in free agency leaves the Panthers with a hole to fill at the running back position.
Chuba Hubbard and Trevor Etienne are likely to split carries, and if Jonathan Brooks is healthy, he could be the backup option behind Hubbard.
Rico Dowdle’s production took a lot of pressure off quarterback Bryce Young, who looked much more comfortable in his third career season, but still has work to do.
In other Panthers news, they inked Jaelen Phillips to a four-year, $120 million deal, further bolstering an already pretty strong defense.
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Rico Dowdle Signs with Steelers for $12.25 Million in Free Agency