The frenzy of NFL free agency always brings excitement, but it also delivers difficult goodbyes. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of those tough moments arrived when running back Kenneth Gainwell agreed to a two-year, $14 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The news, first reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN, marked the departure of one of Pittsburgh’s most versatile and productive offensive players.
Free agency has kept Steelers general manager Omar Khan extremely busy.
Since the opening of the negotiating window Monday morning, Pittsburgh’s front office has focused heavily on reshaping the roster. Much of that work has centered on strengthening the defense and continuing to add talent to the receiving corps—areas the organization believes are crucial to returning the team to consistent contention.
But while Pittsburgh has been active in adding pieces, the reality of free agency is that other teams are always watching closely. Sometimes, they are willing to pay for players you simply cannot keep.
That appears to be exactly what happened with Gainwell.
The loss stings because his impact on the Steelers’ offense last season was impossible to overlook. In many ways, he became the lifeline for a unit that struggled to find rhythm. Whether he was catching passes out of the backfield, slipping through defensive fronts as a runner, or providing a spark when the offense desperately needed one, Gainwell consistently answered the call.
The numbers paint a clear picture of just how important he was. Gainwell led Pittsburgh with 73 receptions, a remarkable figure for a running back, while piling up 1,023 total yards of offense. He also found the end zone eight times, often stepping up in key moments when the offense needed a playmaker.
More than the statistics, though, Gainwell brought energy to a group that often seemed to search for it. When the offense stalled, he had a way of creating something out of nothing. When momentum dipped, he had the ability to restore it with a single touch of the football.
In many ways, he was the catalyst that kept Pittsburgh competitive on the offensive side of the ball.
The Pittsburgh Steelers must find way to fill Kenneth Gainwell’s absence in 2026
Now, that catalyst is headed to Tampa Bay.
Truthfully, this outcome is not shocking. It’s the nature of the business in today’s NFL. When productive players hit the open market, their value often climbs quickly, and teams with available cap space rarely hesitate to make aggressive offers. The Steelers understood the risk the moment Gainwell stepped into free agency.
Still, understanding the risk does not make the loss any easier.
Gainwell was FanSided’s 103rd-ranked free agent ahead of the NFL’s negotiation. This could prove to be a bigger loss than many fans expect.
For Khan and the Steelers’ front office, the challenge now shifts from retaining Gainwell to replacing what he brought to the offense. That is far easier said than done. Players capable of contributing as both runners and receivers at that level are not easy to find.
Fortunately, Pittsburgh’s leadership believes the solution may come through creativity and development rather than a single replacement.
Head coach Mike McCarthy now carries the responsibility of reshaping the offensive approach. Known for his experience and offensive mind, McCarthy will need to begin crafting ways to recreate the versatility Gainwell provided. That could mean expanding roles for existing players, designing new offensive packages, or identifying another versatile back who can step into the system.
Whatever the approach, one thing is certain: replacing Gainwell’s production will not be simple.
Yet the Steelers have long built their identity on adapting to change. Players come and go, but the expectation of improvement remains constant. Losing a key contributor is never ideal, but it also opens the door for new opportunities and new solutions.
For Pittsburgh, the work continues. And somewhere inside the Steelers’ facility, the search for the next offensive spark is already underway.