PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He bet on himself after four seasons as Saquon Barkley’s backup with Philadelphia. On Friday, running back Kenneth Gainwell was named the Steelers Most Valuable Player.
Gainwell signed a one-year, $1.79 million contract with the Steelers and the 26-year-old has career high in rushing yards (527), receiving yards (422), total touchdowns (7) and had one of the greatest catches in the NFL this year, a diving reception he lost in the lights temporarily in Detroit.
Gainwell is the first player to win the award in his first year with the Steelers since Jerome Bettis in 1996. He’s also the sixth running back to win team MVP.
When asked a couple of weeks ago about why he’s had success with the Steelers.
“Aaron Rodgers, that’s all I can say,” Gainwell said. “Him trusting me, my hands, doing the small things and going out there and working.”
Gainwell said Rogers understands the game, and while there is an affinity between the two in their few months together as teammates, there was no prior relationship. Gainwell said he just watched him as a kid and trusts that he knows football.
But the running back signed here before Rodgers was close to signing. There is someone else he trusted.
“Arthur Smith, he’s a very smart coach,” Gainwell said. “He’s a very smart offensive coordinator, him putting guys in positions to do jobs. Understanding what guys bring to the table and me working hard throughout came really did put a big check mark in his box to see what I can really do.”
Last 10 Steelers MVPs
• Willie Parker (2006)
• James Harrison (2007, 08)
• Ben Roethlisberger (2009)
• Troy Polamalu (2010)
• Antonio Brown (2011, 13, 15, 17)
• Heath Miller (2012)
• Le’Veon Bell (2014, 16)
• JuJu Smith-Schuster (2018)
• TJ Watt (2019, 20, 21, 23, 24)