Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 6, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
The contract details have been revealed for the free agent deal agreed to on Monday between the Pittsburgh Steelers and running back Rico Dowdle.
Dowdle and the Steelers have agreed to a two-year contract worth $12.25 million, according to a report by Aaron Wilson of KPRC.
The contract comes in at almost a million dollars per year less than the two-year $14 million deal that former Steelers MVP Kenneth Gainwell got from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday.
Dowdle was also the more productive player in 2025. In 17 games, he rushed 236 times for 1,076 yards — a 4.6 yards-per-carry averaged and a 47.9% success rate. For Pittsburgh, Gainwell rushed for only 537 yards on 114 carries, though he did slightly better on a rate basis at 4.7 yards per carry and a 55.3% success rate.Â
Gainwell was also the better receiver, catching 73 passes for 486 yards, while Dowdle caught 39 balls for 297 yards.
Dowdle also has a longer history of that level of play, basically duplicating his 2024 season with the Dallas Cowboys with the Carolina Panthers in 2025, while Gainwell made an unprecedented breakout with Pittsburgh last fall.
Dowdle will also be familiar with the concepts being installed by Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in Dallas in 2020 and coached him for his first five NFL seasons.
Mentioned In This Article: Pittsburgh Steelers Rico Dowdle Steelers