The Pittsburgh Steelers have no shortage of priorities this offseason. With Mike McCarthy steering the ship, improving offensive production sits at the top of the checklist. The NFL Draft buzz is building, but front offices know roster construction doesn’t happen in April alone. Bold trades and difficult financial decisions are shaping contenders right now.
That’s why the recent decision made by the Detroit Lions should serve as a cautionary tale in Pittsburgh.
Detroit’s decision to trade David Montgomery to the Houston Texans effectively split up one of the league’s most dynamic backfields alongside Jahmyr Gibbs. On paper, it may make financial or schematic sense for them. But it’s an extreme move — and one the Steelers cannot afford to mirror.
Establishing a punishing rushing attack isn’t just strategy in Pittsburgh. It’s identity.
For years, fans pleaded for consistency between the tackles. Too many Sundays felt like uphill battles, with the offense stuck behind the chains and predictable. But last season felt different. There was rhythm. There was balance and edge that traveled into the fourth quarter.
A large part of that resurgence came from Kenneth Gainwell.
With significant help from Gainwell, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith salvaged games that once seemed destined for doom. Gainwell’s 1,023 total yards and eight touchdowns injected versatility into the scheme. He ran with patience, caught passes in space, and forced defenses to respect every blade of grass.
The Pittsburgh Steelers cannot afford to disturb their running back tandem like the Lions just did
And then there’s Jaylen Warren.
Warren compiled 1,291 total yards and added eight touchdowns of his own. His burst through tight creases and willingness to absorb contact energized the offense. Together, Gainwell and Warren formed something Pittsburgh hasn’t consistently enjoyed in years — a true dual-threat backfield.
Combined, the Steelers’ dynamic duo accounted for over 2,300 total yards and 16 touchdowns. Let that sink in. For the first time in a long while, Pittsburgh wasn’t envying someone else’s formula. Instead, they developed their own.
Which is why Detroit’s decision feels so risky.
Breaking up a productive tandem disrupts chemistry, rhythm, and the subtle trust that builds between linemen and runners. A two-back system keeps legs fresh deep into the season. It forces defensive coordinators to adjust personnel. It allows an offense to dictate terms instead of reacting.
Yes, Gainwell enters free agency. The parallels to Detroit are real. Pittsburgh is absolutely in jeopardy of losing one half of its resurgence. But unlike the Lions, I believe the Steelers understand what they finally rediscovered.
McCarthy has always thrived when his offense can lean on the run to set up explosive plays downfield. A strong ground game protects quarterbacks, shortens games, and travels in cold-weather football — something that matters deeply in this division.
Letting that formula dissolve would be self-inflicted regression.
The Steelers worked too hard to restore physicality to abandon it after one productive campaign. While splashy receiver prospects and quarterback debates will dominate headlines, retaining a dynamic backfield might be the most important decision of all.
Detroit chose change. Pittsburgh should choose continuity.
Because when the weather turns harsh and January football demands toughness, nothing travels better than a two-headed rushing attack that knows how to close.