The Pittsburgh Steelers’ backfield knew they were going to face a tough task to open the 2025 season—but now, that challenge just got a whole lot heavier.
With the New York Jets acquiring defensive tackle Harrison Phillips from the Minnesota Vikings, the Steelers’ rushing attack will be tested right out of the gate in a season opener that’s already shaping up to be a gritty trench battle.
Let me be clear: the Jets aren’t messing around this offseason.
While Pittsburgh’s own head coach, Mike Tomlin, has his team prepped like they’re headed to war, it appears Aaron Glenn and the Jets are building their own army. Adding Phillips to an already ferocious defensive front shows they’re all-in.
It’s almost poetic: two blue-collar teams, led by no-nonsense coaches, starting the year by punching each other in the mouth.
Phillips isn’t just some rotational depth piece either. Last season, he logged 675 snaps, registered 56 tackles, and picked up two sacks. But stats don’t tell the whole story with a player like him.
He’s a classic run-stuffer—sturdy, technically sound, and experienced. He doesn’t miss assignments, and he rarely gets moved off the line. When paired next to All-Pro Quinnen Williams? That’s a serious problem for any interior offensive line.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must prepare Kaleb Johnson and Jaylen Warren for Week 1
The trade details may seem minor—just a 2026 sixth-rounder and a 2027 seventh-round swap—but the impact could be anything but. For a Jets defense that already boasted one of the most physically dominant lines in the league, plugging in Phillips gives them a solid rotation and a fresh set of legs for early-down run defense.
It’s a low-cost move that could pay big dividends, especially Week 1 against the Steelers.
And that brings us back to the boys in black and gold. Pittsburgh will roll into the season with Jaylen Warren, Kenneth Gainwell, and rookie Kaleb Johnson in the backfield.
I like this trio a lot. Warren is shifty—like he’s still fighting for a roster spot. Gainwell is a crafty, elusive option who can help in the passing game. And Kaleb Johnson? He’s got a shot to be special if he adjusts quickly to NFL speed.
But let’s be honest: they’ll need everything they’ve got to find space behind a line that still has questions to answer.
It’s going to come down to the offensive line’s ability to handle two absolute brick walls in Phillips and Williams. If they can’t get movement up front, Pittsburgh could find itself behind the chains early and often.
The key will be keeping the Jets’ front honest—mixing in screens, misdirection, and using motion to create mismatches.
I believe in this Steelers team. They’re tough, disciplined, and loaded with young talent. But they’d better believe the Jets are doing their homework too. Between veteran pickups like Aaron Rodgers, Jalen Ramsey, Darius Slay, and now Phillips, the Jets are building a cavalry of their own.
Week 1 isn’t just a game—it’s a tone-setter. And for the Steelers’ running backs, it’s going to be a battle in the trenches from the very first snap.