Super Bowl Champion LIX Running Back Is Heading to Tampa Bay
The Pittsburgh Steelers have lost another running back to free agency this year. Kenneth Gainwell has exited Pittsburgh and entered a new era in his career. The former Pittsburgh and Philadelphia running back has talent, and where he is going will definitely be a big part of a scheme. As of today, Gainwell was obtained by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It didn’t take long for him to go elsewhere after hitting the free agency market. Gainwell signed a contract to play with the Bucs that is worth 14 million for the next two seasons. A contract that no one had expected to come his way.
Gainwell was selected as a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He came out of the University of Memphis with a stellar history of stats. He also showcased elite versatility by catching 51 passes for 610 yards and three receiving touchdowns that same year. Gainwell became one of only a handful of FBS players to total over 2,000 all-purpose yards in 2019. He averaged nearly 6.3 yards per carry, proving he could be both explosive and efficient.
Over his time in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, he has totaled more than 1,100 rushing yards and averaged around 4.2 yards per carry while adding valuable production in the red zone. As a receiver out of the backfield, Gainwell has recorded over 700 receiving yards and multiple receiving touchdowns, showcasing his versatility. He has also been productive in the postseason, including key touchdown performances during the Eagles’ LIX Super Bowl run.
He had the resume that many teams were looking for. The Buccaneer were just happy about how well he has done over the last couple of seasons. Gainwell is considered a steal during this year's free agency. Pittsburgh let him go without pushing back or trying everything to get him back onto their roster. They may have just lost something great that they didn’t know they had.
The former Super Bowl champion is ready to start a brand new run with the Bucs. He will now be receiving passes from Baker Mayfield. It’s definitely going to be something new for him, and he is looking forward to it too. He will also be running with players such as Chris Godwin, and Emeka Egbuka, both have been showing what they have on the field just as much as he has.
