Steelers and Two-Time 1,000-Yard RB Agree to Contract
The Steelers announced that they agreed to terms on a contract with former Panthers RB Rico Dowdle. The specifics of the contract have yet to be released, but the deal marks the fifth contract that Dowdle has signed in his short career. Starting as an undrafted special teamer and excelling to a multiple-time 1,000-yard rusher is an underdog story to appreciate. Dowdle hopes to eclipse 1,000 yards again this upcoming season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dowdle Beat the Odds
After deciding not to draft a running back in 2020, the Cowboys felt comfortable with their group in the backfield: Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard. Elliott, the bell cow on the team, had just come off his third Pro Bowl appearance in four seasons and was surely going into his age-25 season feeling great after helping Dallas finish as the sixth-highest-scoring offense. Behind Elliott was Pollard, who posted a respectable 455 yards and five yards per carry rushing average in his rookie season. Therefore, the Cowboys didn’t feel the need to invest any more capital in the running back position. In 2020, the Cowboys signed three undrafted running backs to the COVID-shortened 80-man training camp roster: Dowdle, Sewo Olonilua, and Darius Anderson. Both Olonilua and Anderson played for the TCU Horned Frogs from 2016 to 2019, roughly 20 minutes away from AT&T Stadium, making them the fan favorites to make the team. Despite all the odds against him, Dowdle made the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie and made an impact on special teams, playing over 200 special teams snaps and fielding four kick returns for an average of 38 yards.
Rise to Success and Departure from Dallas
Even just playing special teams snaps is a success story for your average undrafted player, but Dowdle proved he was more than that. After averaging less than 1,000 rushing yards with a four-yard per carry average and just over two fumbles per season in the 2020s, the Cowboys released Elliott on March 15th, 2023. This opened up a spot for Dowdle to be the backup to Pollard, which allowed him to show his offensive talents for the first time. After one year as Pollard’s backup, Jerry Jones was ready to give Dowdle the job as the starter. In his first season as the lead back, Dowdle compiled 1,328 yards from scrimmage and five total touchdowns. Despite having a solid season, the Cowboys didn’t want to renew his contract, leaving the former South Carolina Gamecock to test free agency and sign with the Panthers in 2025. Dowdle’s underdog story continued in Carolina, losing the starting job to Chuba Hubbard after a season as a starter in the year prior. However, Dowdle gained the starting spot with the Panthers and never gave it back following a Week Five injury to Hubbard, putting up 473 scrimmage yards, including 389 on the ground, in his first two games as a starter. Dowdle finished his single season in Carolina with 236 carries for 1,076 yards and seven total touchdowns in 11 starts across 17 appearances.
Now headed to Pittsburgh for 2026, Dowdle will battle incumbent running backs Jaylen Warren and Kaleb Johnson for playing time in Mike McCarthy’s new-look offense. The QB for this new offense is still up in the air, but Dowdle will be forced to share targets and playcalls with DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman, Pat Friermuth, Warren, and Johnson. Either way, Dowdle’s explosiveness should prove quite well for him as the Steelers were a bottom-10 rushing team in 2025. Welcome to Pittsburgh, Rico Dowdle!
