Steelers Running Back’s Most Underrated Trait Adds to the Reason Why the Team Should Re-Sign Him
Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell had a breakout season in 2025. In March of 2025, he inked a one-year, $1.79 million deal with the team. The former Philadelphia Eagles running back was initially added for depth. However, his performance surpassed expectations.
Gainwell reached a career high in rushing yards, receiving yards, and total touchdowns last year. During the 2025 season, he amassed 537 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 486 receiving yards, and three receiving touchdowns. The 26-year-old was the team leader in receptions with 73. Gainwell was ranked second among the Steelers in total receiving yards last season. Wide receiver DK Metcalf ranked first.
Gainwell’s teammates chose him as their 2025 Most Valuable Player. The 26-year-old is the first Steelers running back to be awarded team MVP since 2016, when Le’Veon Bell won the award. He’s also the first player to be named MVP in his first year in black and gold since 1996, when Jerome Bettis received the honor.
The rising star running back’s most underrated trait isn’t an on-field trait. It’s his availability. A player who is available and makes the effort to build trust with the coaching staff is a valuable asset. Gainwell is always an active participant during practice and during games. He wasn’t on the team’s injury report at all in 2025. The 26-year-old was consistently a full participant with no limitations in practice.
2025 wasn’t an anomaly for him. Since he was drafted in 2021, Gainwell has a proven track record of barely missing any games. According to Steelers Depot, he only missed one game in 2021 and one game in 2023. Per Steelers Depot, the 26-year-old didn’t miss any games in 2022, 2024, and 2025. For comparison, here’s a list of the running backs with a minimum of 200 carries who have played the most games since 2021:
Kenneth Gainwell — 83
Devin Singletary — 82
Samaje Perine — 81
Tony Pollard — 81
Chuba Hubbard — 79
The 2025 Steelers Team MVP is about to hit free agency. The Steelers should make re-signing him a priority. Gainwell’s versatility, consistency, and availability are all assets to the team. His steady contributions to the team have made him a key member of the Steelers’ offense.
