Pittsburgh’s MVP would like to return in 2026
The Pittsburgh Steelers face a must-win game against the Baltimore Ravens in the regular season finale. Pittsburgh could win its first AFC North title since 2020 or miss the playoffs altogether.
With DK Metcalf set to miss the second game of his two-game suspension, the The Steelers duo of Kenneth Gainwell and Jalen Warren should have a significant impact on the week 18 matchup. Gainwell was selected as the team’s MVP during the campaign for the fifth-year rusher. And regardless of the outcome of Week 18, he he hopes to return in Pittsburgh next season.
“This experience was amazing for me. It’s definitely something I would like to experience again,” Gainwell said, via Matthew Lucciov. “That’s exactly something I’d love to come back and be a part of.”
Kenneth Gainwell is enjoying the best season of his career with the Steelers
The The Steelers signed Gainwell on a one-year contract over the season. The former fifth-round pick spent the first four years of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles. But he reached new heights in western Pennsylvania.
In 16 games with Pittsburgh, Gainwell set new career highs in rushing yards (109), rushing yards (527), receptions (65), receiving yards (422) and total touchdowns (7). And he complimented Warren well.
The Steelers lost Najee Harris to the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency. So the team turned to Warren as the starter and added Gainwell for depth. The move worked well as both backs enjoyed career-best campaigns
Pittsburgh could re-sign Gainwell after his strong performance. But the Steelers may be a very different team next year if they lose to the Ravens on Sunday. Some NFL watchers believe so Mike Tomlin’s future with the team is uncertain if Pittsburgh misses the playoffs.
The Steelers had a chance to clinch a postseason berth and win the division title with a win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 17. But Pittsburgh fell short, setting up a winner-take-all showdown with Baltimore.
2026-01-03 02:51:00
