The Pittsburgh Steelers took a significant hit, losing Kenny Gainwell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency. He wasn’t just a useful depth piece by the time he left Pittsburgh. In his brief stint, Gainwell had become one of the offense’s most reliable, flexible players. He was the kind of back who could keep drives alive, help protect the quarterback, and complement Jaylen Warren.
Now the Buccaneers are getting an early look at why Pittsburgh valued him so much.
Baker Mayfield already sees why Kenny Gainwell mattered to the Pittsburgh Steelers
“Ken has been doing great,” Baker Mayfield told reporters in a June press conference. “He's somebody that I've respected from afar when he was Philly and the Steelers. You can tell he's a sharp kid who's always been able to do pass protection stuff. He was doing that in Philly from a very early on in his career point, and then in Pittsburgh he actually balled out. Now to have him here, we're lucky because he's extremely sharp, a great leader, can do everything you ask for.”
Gainwell averaged around 500 yards from scrimmage per season during four years with the Eagles, then came to Pittsburgh on a cheap prove-it deal and turned it into a major payday. In an expanded role alongside Warren, he topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage in 2025 and caught 73 passes after never having more than 33 in a season.
That jump changed his market fast. Tampa Bay gave him $7 million annually with $10 million guaranteed, a price the Steelers chose not to match while focusing on other roster needs.
There were personal layers, too. Gainwell, from Mississippi, told Buccaneers media he wanted to get back to the South.
The Steelers softened the blow by signing Rico Dowdle to pair with Warren. Dowdle brings more between-the-tackles power and a history with Mike McCarthy from Dallas. While Pittsburgh has a plan, Mayfield’s praise is a reminder that Gainwell won’t be easy to replace.
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