Rico Dowdle, Steelers Reportedly Agree to Contract, Updated RB Depth Chart After Gainwell Exit
Rico Dowdle is once again on the move.
The running back has agreed to a new deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to NFL Insider Jordan Schultz.
Dowdle will help replace Kenneth Gainwell, who agreed to a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier on Monday. It helps create an intriguing backfield in Pittsburgh.
Dowdle was a free agent this offseason after the Carolina Panthers signed him to a one-year deal ahead of the 2025 campaign.
The South Carolina product was previously with the Dallas Cowboys for the first five seasons of his career, although injuries and a crowded depth chart prevented him from making an early impact.
He missed the entire 2021 season and failed to reach 400 rushing yards in any of his first four years, but the 2024 campaign was a different story. Dowdle broke through with 1,079 yards and two touchdowns on the ground to go with 39 catches for 249 yards and three scores as a receiver.
Still, he didn’t have a massive market and settled for his previous one-year deal with Carolina.
Dowdle had more of a track record to fall back on this time around after a second consecutive season with more than 1,000 rushing yards. He ended up rushing for 1,076 yards and career-high six touchdowns to go with 39 catches for 297 yards and one score in 2025 with Carolina and was able to take over the starting job after Chuba Hubbard suffered an injury.
It didn’t take long for him to take advantage of his opportunity with 206 rushing yards in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins and 239 yards from scrimmage in Week 6 against his former team the Cowboys.
However, Dowdle ran for 100 yards just one more time the rest of the season and finished with single-digit carries in three of the last six games and two of the final three.
He ended the campaign with seven carries for 10 yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and told reporters he wanted to go somewhere he would see the majority of the opportunities in free agency:
That end of the season meant Dowdle didn’t take much momentum into free agency as part of a crowded running back market that also included Kenneth Walker III and Travis Etienne Jr.
It made him more of a secondary and less expensive option for teams in need of help at the position, and the Steelers certainly hope he surpasses 1,000 rushing yards for a third straight season after this move.
Even if he splits time with Warren and Johnson, there should still be plenty of opportunities for Dowdle to make an impact in 2026.
