Steelers 2022 Undrafted Free Agent RB Makes Big Change Ahead of 2026 Season
The Pittsburgh Steelers' starting running back, Jaylen Warren, came into the league as an undrafted free agent and instantly made his impact in the Steel City. His career started playing behind Najee Harris, whom the Steelers used as a bellcow after drafting him with the 24th pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. By Warren’s second season, the five-foot-eight running back showcased what his size and speed are capable of producing. He put 784 rushing yards on just 149 attempts, good for a 5.3 yards per attempt average. His 370 receiving yards put him over 1,000 total scrimmage yards, all while Harris was still pounding the rock for more than 1,000 rushing yards. After the departure of Harris when he joined the Chargers for the 2025 season, the Steelers signed former Super Bowl-winning running back Kenneth Gainwell, who was named Team MVP after recording 1,023 total scrimmage yards. After Gainwell joined the Buccaneers this offseason and the Steelers signed former Cowboys and Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh’s run game looked exceptional for 2026, and recent reports about Warren’s offseason preparation just make it look even better.
At five-foot-eight and weighing 215 pounds, Warren’s build wasn't one that’s often seen in NFL running backs. However, this build helped him, as he would regularly bounce off defenders, breaking runs for an extra seven yards or more. Recently, the 27-year-old spoke with a member of DK Pittsburgh Sports, who reported that “Jaylen Warren said he’s around 208 right now, which is down seven pounds from his listed weight of 215 pounds.” The 27-year-old responded to this, saying, “That’s not an accident. I’ve definitely been taking this offseason seriously.” Despite not recording a 1,000-yard rushing season yet, Warren’s 3,859 scrimmage yards through his first four years as a Steeler have earned him love in the Steel City and among the organization, as he signed a two-year extension in September of 2025. Of course, Warren’s 2026 season has no guarantee that it will be an improvement on his 2025 season, where he had nearly 1,300 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns, but his decision to cut weight will prove successful for him. His 4.55-second 40-yard dash almost seems like an insult based on his highlights, where he practically flies around the field like a pinball.
Plenty of notable NFL running backs have produced exceptional career numbers despite that size disadvantage. Former Lions running back Barry Sanders stood five-foot-eight and weighed 203 pounds, and still finished his career as one of the greatest of all time, averaging more than 1,500 rushing yards in each of his 10 seasons. Even smaller, standing five-foot-six and weighing 190 pounds, Darren Sproles made a name for himself as a versatile player in both the pass and run game. Even with recent reports of second-year running back Kaleb Johnson looking to take things to a new level under Mike McCarthy’s new offense, combined with Dowdle coming off of back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, Warren’s weight loss puts him in a very similar position as someone like Sanders. Pittsburgh’s 2026 running back room will likely be even more of a three-headed monster than in years prior. Every off-season, the undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State has shown improvement, a strong work ethic, and an attitude to deliver to his team. The Steelers trust him, and he trusts himself. For a running back who has already excelled in so many hidden facets of the game, such as pass blocking, yards after contact, and his exceptionally high broken tackle rate, the short rusher is ready to take his talents to an even higher level in 2026.
