Jaylen Warren Takes Over as Steelers’ Top Back

After years of splitting touches and playing the role of Robin, Jaylen Warren enters the 2025 season with the opportunity to play Batman as the Steelers’ lead running back, for now. Najee Harris is now with the Chargers, and Pittsburgh made it clear who they trust by tendering Warren at over $5.3 million this offseason. To start the season, at least, Warren is the lead dog in the room.

Warren’s numbers speak for themselves, and fans like myself are excited to see more of him. In 2023, he averaged an impressive 5.3 yards per carry on 149 attempts, totaling 784 yards and four touchdowns. Even during an injury-shortened 2024 season, he still ran for over 500 yards and added 310 as a receiver. He’s consistently one of the league’s most efficient runners, ranking in the top 10 in explosive plays, success rate, and yards after contact since entering the league in 2022. All this while being the back-up to Najee Harris.

Head coach Mike Tomlin isn’t shy about his confidence in Warren either, stating he is comfortable in Warren’s ability to be the lead back. But there’s young talent coming up behind him, and he might be REALLY good.

The Steelers used a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Kaleb Johnson, a workhorse from Iowa. Johnson was the centerpiece of the Hawkeyes’ offense, defenses knew he was getting the ball, and he still produced at a very high level. While he wasn’t asked to do much in the passing game at Iowa, that’s the area where Warren shines. Few backs in the league protect the quarterback as well as Warren, and his ability to stay on the field on third downs has always been a huge strength of his.

That hasn’t gone unnoticed. Johnson has reportedly been asking Warren, and newly signed Kenneth Gainwell, question after question, particularly about pass protection. Knowing it isn’t a proven asset in Johnson’s game, Steelers coaches have taken a hands-on approach as well, putting extra emphasis on pass pro in Johnson’s early reps during the teams OTAs.

Now the longest-tenured back in the Steelers locker room, Warren has naturally stepped into a leadership role. He’s setting the tone not just on the field, but in the meeting room, answering questions and helping the new running backs in the room however he possibly can. That’s a shift, but one he’s embraced.

While Johnson could eventually become the bell cow in the backfield, and Gainwell offers another reliable option, the rushing attack will revolve around Warren in 2025. With questions surrounding the quarterback position, his ability to produce on the ground and protect in the pocket is more valuable than ever.

Warren earned this shot. He was an undrafted free agent who is now RB1 of the Pittsburgh Steelers. And based on everything we’ve seen from him so far, don’t expect him to give that up easily.

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