{"id":134091,"date":"2026-03-10T04:03:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T04:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/134091\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T04:03:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T04:03:09","slug":"pittsburgh-steelers-sign-1000-yard-rusher-to-two-year-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/134091\/","title":{"rendered":"Pittsburgh Steelers sign 1,000-yard rusher to two-year deal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Pittsburgh Steelers signed one of the major free agents in the running back room. <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NFL\/status\/2031198036819611963\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:According to Tom Pelissero;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;According to Tom Pelissero&quot;}\" class=\"link \">According to Tom Pelissero<\/a>, they\u2019ve signed Rico Dowdle to a two-year, $12.25 million contract.<\/p>\n<p>Dowdle has come off two straight surprise 1,000-yard seasons. In the 2024 season with the Dallas Cowboys, Dowdle totaled 1,079 yards and two touchdowns on 235 carries. He also racked up another 249 yards and three touchdowns in the air.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>However, the Cowboys let Dowdle walk, and he signed a one-year, $6.25 million deal with the Carolina Panthers in 2025. He was originally signed to be the backup to Chuba Hubbard. However, when Hubbard suffered an injury in Week 4, Dowdle ran with the opportunity.<\/p>\n<p>More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/steelers-add-former-1000-yard-receiver-in-shocking-trade\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Steelers add former 1,000 yard receiver in shocking trade;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Steelers add former 1,000 yard receiver in shocking trade&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Steelers add former 1,000 yard receiver in shocking trade<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img alt=\"Oct 12, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) runs with the ball while getting pressured by Dallas Cowboys linebacker Shemar James (50) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"640\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"standard-img\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1c825fd5e59b9bfcafe2e74db2903aa7.jpeg\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Oct 12, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle (5) runs with the ball while getting pressured by Dallas Cowboys linebacker Shemar James (50) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<p>More: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/chiefs-land-kenneth-walker-iii-as-patrick-mahomes-new-weapon\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Chiefs land Super Bowl MVP as Patrick Mahomes\u2019 new weapon;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Chiefs land Super Bowl MVP as Patrick Mahomes\u2019 new weapon&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Chiefs land Super Bowl MVP as Patrick Mahomes\u2019 new weapon<\/a><\/p>\n<p>He earned 234 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, and he followed that with a 239-yard day against his old team in Week 6. He became the first player since Le\u2019Veon Bell in 2014 to gain 230+ scrimmage yards in two straight games. Overall, he finished the 2025 season with 1,076 yards and six touchdowns on 236 rushing attempts.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>The Steelers are looking for someone to fit in a running-back tandem with 27-year-old RB Jaylen Warren. They originally had Kenneth Gainwell, but he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so they found their replacement in Dowdell. 2025 second-round pick Kaleb Johnson should still get carries too.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Enjoy free coverage of the top news &amp; trending stories on The Big Lead;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Enjoy free coverage of the top news &amp;amp&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Enjoy free coverage of the top news &amp; trending stories on The Big Lead <\/a>\u2014<\/p>\n<p>NFL: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/predicting-the-first-three-2026-nfl-free-agency-signings\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Predicting the first three 2026 NFL Free Agency signings;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Predicting the first three 2026 NFL Free Agency signings&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Predicting the first three 2026 NFL Free Agency signings<\/a><\/p>\n<p>MARCH MADNESS: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/acc-tournament-mens-basketball-bracket-schedule-revealed\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:ACC Tournament men\u2019s basketball bracket, schedule revealed;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;ACC Tournament men\u2019s basketball bracket, schedule revealed&quot;}\" class=\"link \">ACC Tournament men\u2019s basketball bracket, schedule revealed<\/a><\/p>\n<p>MLB: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/former-blue-jays-pitcher-39-announces-hell-retire-immediately-after-wbc\/https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/former-blue-jays-pitcher-39-announces-hell-retire-immediately-after-wbc\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Former Blue Jays pitcher, 39, announces he\u2019ll retire immediately after WBC;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Former Blue Jays pitcher, 39, announces he\u2019ll retire immediately after WBC&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Former Blue Jays pitcher, 39, announces he\u2019ll retire immediately after WBC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>NBA: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/boston-celtics-reveal-massive-jayson-tatum-update-before-nba-playoffs\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Boston Celtics reveal massive Jayson Tatum update before NBA Playoffs;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Boston Celtics reveal massive Jayson Tatum update before NBA Playoffs&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Boston Celtics reveal massive Jayson Tatum update before NBA Playoffs<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Advertisement<\/p>\n<p>SPORTS MEDIA: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/nhl-gets-tv-ratings-bump-after-thrilling-usa-canada-clash-for-olympic-gold\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:NHL gets TV ratings bump after thrilling USA-Canada clash for Olympic gold;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;NHL gets TV ratings bump after thrilling USA-Canada clash for Olympic gold&quot;}\" class=\"link \">NHL gets TV ratings bump after thrilling USA-Canada clash for Olympic gold<\/a><\/p>\n<p>VIRAL: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/nfl-star-joe-burrow-cozies-with-jessica-alba-las-vegas-casino\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:NFL star Joe Burrow cozies up with Jessica Alba at Las Vegas casino;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;NFL star Joe Burrow cozies up with Jessica Alba at Las Vegas casino&quot;}\" class=\"link \">NFL star Joe Burrow cozies up with Jessica Alba at Las Vegas casino<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\/pittsburgh-steelers-yard-running-back-two-year-deal\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Pittsburgh Steelers sign 1,000-yard rusher to two-year deal;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Pittsburgh Steelers sign 1,000-yard rusher to two-year deal&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Pittsburgh Steelers sign 1,000-yard rusher to two-year deal<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thebiglead.com\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:The Big Lead;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;The Big Lead&quot;}\" class=\"link \">The Big Lead<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Pittsburgh Steelers signed one of the major free agents in the running back room. According to Tom&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":134092,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[9512,11864,6711,4992,37947,6537,3272,58958,4778,54502,3273,4993,6549,1828,26245,73,75,74,1833,39228,61967,61968,6517,14745,8576,61966],"class_list":["post-134091","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-pittsburgh","tag-boston-celtics","tag-carolina-panthers","tag-charlotte","tag-chiefs","tag-chuba-hubbard","tag-dallas-cowboys","tag-jaylen-warren","tag-jayson-tatum","tag-joe-burrow","tag-kaleb-johnson","tag-kenneth-gainwell","tag-las-vegas","tag-miami-dolphins","tag-north-carolina","tag-patrick-mahomes","tag-pittsburgh","tag-pittsburgh-headlines","tag-pittsburgh-news","tag-pittsburgh-steelers","tag-rico-dowdle","tag-scrimmage-yards","tag-shemar-james","tag-tampa-bay-buccaneers","tag-tom-pelissero","tag-usa","tag-yard-receiver"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134091","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=134091"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/134091\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/134092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=134091"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=134091"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=134091"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}