The Pittsburgh Steelers made a few notable offensive additions this offseason. One that got potentially the least attention was Kenneth Gainwell. With Jaylen Warren finally seeming to take over the lead-back role, expectations for Gainwell were modest and his role wasn’t expected to be a large one outside of some occasional catches out of the backfield.
Yet 15 weeks into the 2025 season, Gainwell has been quite the surprise. Multiple times this season he’s given the offense life when it needs it most, and he’s playing significantly better than his price tag suggests. At this point, former NFL GM Doug Whaley thinks Gainwell has been the Steelers’ MVP, and not just on offense.