The Pittsburgh Steelers are undergoing a complete overhaul of their coaching staff this offseason. That likely means an uncertain future for some Steelers free agents such as running back Kenneth Gainwell.
This week, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly addressed all the big questions regarding the team’s roster this offseason. With Gainwell, Kaboly projected the running back to play with a new team in 2026.
“If the old regime were still in place, Gainwell would be a slam dunk of a yes,” Kaboly wrote on Friday. “But we don’t know McCarthy and offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio’s feelings on Gainwell, even if he was the Team MVP last year.
“Spotrac has his market value at 2 years for $6 million. For a guy who has made less than $6 million over his entire career, more money somewhere else might be attractive.”
Signing with the Steelers as a free agent last year, Gainwell became an intricate part of the team’s offense during 2025. Not only did he gain 1,023 yards from scrimmage and score eight touchdowns, the running back led the Steelers with 73 receptions.
Gainwell played for the Steelers last season on a 1-year, $1.79 million deal.
Will the Steelers Re-Sign RB Kenneth Gainwell?
Kaboly highlighted eight different Steelers unrestricted free agents in his post before Super Bowl weekend. Of those eight, Gainwell was one of two players Kaboly placed in the “chooses to sign elsewhere” category.
That category included players Kaboly predicted the Steelers to want back but won’t be able to re-sign. The other player besides Gainwell in that tier was wide receiver Calvin Austin III.
As the Steelers insider mentioned, it would make a lot of sense for Gainwell to sign the richest contract he can get this offseason. He’s never made even $2 million in a season, which is low by NFL standards.
Gainwell was extremely valuable to the Steelers, so it’s possible general manager Omar Khan makes the running back his best offer. But new head coach Mike McCarthy didn’t see that impact first hand.
McCarthy might also have different plans for his offense than featuring a running back so often in the passing game.
Furthermore, the Steelers still have fellow running backs Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson under contract.
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Few will complain if the Steelers re-sign Gainwell. After all, he won the Steelers team MVP award in 2025.
But with Gainwell back, it would again be unclear how Johnson, who the Steelers drafted in the third round last year, finds a role.
Pundits expected Johnson to make a major impact as a rookie. But he began the 2025 campaign behind Warren and Gainwell on the running back depth chart. So, the Steelers tried Johnson on special teams.
That was a disaster. Johnson muffed a kickoff that the opposition recovered for a touchdown during a Steelers loss in Week 2.
Johnson somewhat rebounded to play a role on offense in October. But by the end of the season, he was often a healthy scratch.
Gainwell returning would give the Steelers offense, particularly the passing attack, a boost. But it could also doom Johnson to another season of irrelevancy.
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