The forgotten Pittsburgh Steelers running back

The business of the National Football League is a “what have you done for me lately” business, and that can also extend to the fan attention throughout the league year.

When the new league year starts, the free agent acquisitions are those new toys everyone loves to play with and gloat about, but when the NFL Draft rolls around there is often the tendency to forget about those toys and focus on the newer, shiny ones you receive.

Think of it like the free agent acquisitions being a hand-me-down toy, while the drafted players are brand new out of the packaging.

It’s not the fault of the veteran acquisition, but certainly is noticeable as the players jettison from minicamp before returning for training camp.

When we talk about specifically the Pittsburgh Steelers, the thought of Jaylen Warren getting the majority of carries and being spelled by Kenneth Gainwell was an exciting proposition for the fan base.

Then the team drafted Kaleb Johnson in the 3rd Round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Now the talk has shifted from the backfield of Warren and Gainwell, to Warren and Johnson. Poor Gainwell, who likes to be referred to as ‘Kenny G’, has now become the forgotten man in the Steelers’ backfield. When people talk about how the division of labor will be divided, rarely does Gainwell’s name even get mentioned.

Yet he is still a part of the plan moving forward, and running backs coach Eddie Faulkner made sure the media, and by proxy the fan base, know how excited he is to have Gainwell in his room.

“I love him,” Faulkner said when talking about Kenny G during minicamp. “He’s just a pro,” said Faulkner. “He’s got a pro demeanor when he walks in the building every day. I love him.”

The veteran running back has a good demeanor, but what else will he bring to the Steelers? What else will he provide which Warren and/or Johnson won’t? Faulkner spoke about intangibles and experience he has coming off a championship season with the Philadelphia Eagles. Something not one else in the running back room can discuss heading into the 2025 season.

“What a great addition,” said Faulkner. “He is an unselfish guy. He’s fresh off of a Super Bowl, so he’s bringing in that expertise and experience and sharing it with the guys. He’s been a great addition.

“I think more than anything, he can offer a snapshot of what it takes to prepare. Things from team chemistry, camaraderie, a synergy that they experienced last year and maybe things he can carry over to elevate our team.

“I’ve given him full autonomy to do that and speak and be a leader in that way and he’s been great that way. He’ll just interject in meetings that I see it like this or maybe we should think about doing it like that. I just don’t want him sitting on his hands and feeling like he can’t add that value, add some content, to what we’re discussing. He picks and chooses his spots to do that.”

After hearing from Faulkner, what is Gainwell preparing to bring to the Steelers’ roster this season? As you might have guessed, it’s all about leadership and showing others what it takes to win it all.

“That’s another way to be a leader,” said Gainwell. “I went to multiple Super Bowls and can give every guy that’s in that room a picture of how it is.

“It’s basically a togetherness type of message. If we can do this thing collectively and together, we can take this thing a long way. We all know that, but we’ve got to prove it.”

Before Gainwell gets painted in a light which makes fans think he is nothing more than an experienced player who is more of a locker room guy, realize his skill set plays well into what the Steelers can use in a RB3 role. Gainwell is a great back out of the backfield, and provides a unique skill set if the team wants to run the football on specific down and distances. Not to downplay the significance of a leader in the locker room, something many would say was missing over the last few seasons, but Gainwell should be considered a big part of the puzzle heading into the upcoming season.

Be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for training camp in July.