PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – When you have Saquon Barkley in the backfield, having the season he had in 2024, there aren’t many opportunities for the backup. Kenneth Gainwell saw chances with the Steelers, a big reason he went from the Super Bowl champion Eagles to the Steelers.
“Me having more of an opportunity to get out and spacing make a move or run more routes and you know we love to run the ball here,” Gainwell said on the South Side on Thursday. “So get to run the ball a little bit more, just (get) that opportunity.”
Over the course of the season, Gainwell had 75 carries for 290 yards with a touchdown and caught 16 passes for 116 yards. In his fourth season, he became the primary kick returner with 456 yards, 12th in the NFL and 216 yards more than Cordarrelle Patterson with the Steelers. For his career, 280 carries for 1,185 yards and 12 touchdowns with 102 receptions for 721 yards and a TD. Before it was Barkley leading the way, it was Woodland Hills HS graduate Miles Sanders.
While he will miss his teammates in Philadelphia, he said it was time for him to become a man and step up and take the next challenge in his life. That is coming to a team that wants to run it, but haven’t had huge success. He believes he’ll help change that.
“I'm pretty sure my coach, Mike Tomlin, wants more wins and having a stout front line and great backs, that's what's going to, you know, bring more W's,” Gainwell said. “I love offensive lineman I love when the big guys get dirty and nasty up front. That's what I love.”
He got an opportunity to show that more in the December 15 matchup against the Steelers. He had the second-most snaps he had all season, 31, which were 39% of the offensive opportunities is what turned out to be a physical mismatch with the Steelers D. As the Steelers stacked the box, he ran seven times for 20 yards, but caught three passes for 40 yards. He got to show what he did in space.
“I'm pretty sure it did open their eyes to, you know, interest in me,” Gainwell said. “But, you know, I went into the game ready to ball out. And I feel like I'm bringing the same energy here each and every day, especially on Sunday. So you'll get the same energy from me.”
He knows he had an advocate in Steelers Vice President of Player Personnel Andy Weidl. He was part of the group that drafted him in the fifth-round in 2021. He’s also excited to get together with his new teammate, tailback Jaylen Warren. They seem similar, Gainwell is 5’9”, 200 pounds, Warren is 5’8”, 215 pounds. This quote could have come from Warren.
“I had to go in there and pick up blitzes and go in there and pick up a first down if I need to,” Gainwell said. “But my role was always the same and I embraced it. And hopefully my role can grow larger now. And you know, I'm willing to take the next step.”
Ideally would you like to have a three-running back rotation where each does something unique, probably. Gainwell said it really isn’t a factor.
“Our play-style can be similar, our play-style can be different,” Gainwell said. “It doesn’t matter as long as we are getting the win on Sunday and bringing that attitude.”
Gainwell said he’s going to give all he can and wants to prove he’s worth more opportunities. One thing is certain, it may not big the tallest group, but no one is going to give more effort.