The best rushers from 2024 the Steelers are set to face in 2025

As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare for the 2025 NFL season, the main focus is on themselves more than their opponents. The Steelers have to get things right in their own house before they can begin to focus on what to do to stop the team they face each week.

But as Pittsburgh Steeler fans, we have the luxury of looking ahead at the Steelers schedule and their opponents. Being able to slow down the opponents offense will be key each and every week. When it comes to being able to stop the run, a statistic in which is always important to the Steelers defense, who are some of the best rushers they will face this season?

Keeping this in mind, let’s take a look at the top rushers from 2024 who are scheduled to face the Steelers in 2025. Of course, there could be holdouts, injuries, or trades which could make these players not able to see the field when they face the Black & Gold. But for now, these things can’t be known for sure. This list consists of players who rushed for at least 1,000 yards in 2024, their overall rank in rushing yards last season, and the week in which they will face the Steelers.

Note: Last season the Steelers faced the top three rushers from the previous year and eight rushers who had over 900 yards the previous season (as 1,000 yards only yielded one result). This year is a much different story…

Derrick Henry (2nd)
Baltimore Ravens
Week 14, Week 18

After only facing Derrick Henry three times as a member of the Tennessee Titans, the Steelers sawed him three times last season, including the playoffs, now that he is in Baltimore. Henry was the only player the Steelers faced in 2024 who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 2023, and his 2024 numbers were much more impressive.

With Tennessee, Derrick Henry faced the Steelers in 2023 and went for 75 rushing yards on 17 attempts in a 20–16 Steelers win in Pittsburgh. In the three games the Steelers had faced Derrick Henry with the Titans, he had not rushed for more than 75 yards as he also hit that mark in 2020. Additionally, Derrick Henry had never played in a game in which he was victorious over the Steelers as a member of the Titans.

But that all changed in 2024.

Although the first matchup in Pittsburgh saw more of the same from Henry against the Steelers as he only had 65 rushing yards on 13 attempts. But Week 15 brought 162 yards on 24attempts followed by 186 yards on 26 attempts in the playoffs, making the Steelers have to re-evaluate their run defense for 2025.

Jonathan Taylor (4th)
Indianapolis Colts
Week 9

One of only three running backs to averaged over 100 yards per game in 2024, the Steelers faced Jonathan Taylor last season where he rushed for 88 yards on 21 carries along with a touchdown in a 27–24 Colts victory. In three career games against the Steelers, Taylor has rushed for at least 74 yards but no more than 88 in all three games and has four career rushing touchdowns against the Steelers, scoring at least one in every contest.

Jahmyr Gibbs (5th)
Detroit Lions
Week 16

In two NFL seasons, Jahmyr Gibbs has never faced the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2024 he rushed for 1,412 yards on 250 attempts for a 5.6 yard per carry average and tied for the NFL lead in rushing touchdowns with 16.

Josh Jacobs (6th)
Green Bay Packers
Week 8

Facing the Steelers for the first time as a member of the Green Bay Packers, Josh Jacobs has seen the Steelers twice in his career as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders. In both games, the Steelers were victorious with Jacobs not eclipsing 65 rushing yards. Additionally, Jacobs does not have a rushing touchdown against the Steelers.

Aaron Jones (9th)
Minnesota Vikings
Week 4

Much like Josh Jacobs, Aaron Jones has face the Steelers twice but with a different team as he was with the Green Bay Packers. With the teams splitting the matchups between 2021 and 2023, Jones was not much of a factor in either game. In neither circumstance did Jones eclipse 50 rushing yards and did not have a touchdown against the Steelers.

Najee Harris (14th)
Los Angeles Chargers
Week 10

Obviously Najee Harris has never faced the Pittsburgh Steelers as he has yet to play an NFL game outside of wearing black and gold. While he eclipsed 1000 yards last year in Pittsburgh, he had the fewest yards per attempt of any player that went over 1,000 yards in the NFL in 2024. Additionally, the Chargers drafted Omarion Hampton in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft so it’s uncertain how much usage Harris will get with the Chargers throughout the season, let alone when they host the Steelers in Week 10.

James Cook (16th)
Buffalo Bills
Week 13

In his three NFL seasons, bills running back James Cook has faced the Steelers once in the regular season and once in the postseason. In 2022, Cook was not the primary running back as Devin Singletary rushed six times for 42 yards while Cook added four rushes for 31 yards and a touchdown in a 38–3 beat down of the Steelers. When the Bills hosted the Steelers in the 2023 postseason, Cook was the primary back where he rushed for 79 yards on 18 attempts.