In a development that would have been shocking if foretold this spring, Kenneth Gainwell was named the Pittsburgh Steelers’ most valuable player.
The award, voted on by teammates, was announced as practice was beginning Friday at Acrisure Stadium.
“Kenny is an awesome football player,” coach Mike Tomlin said last week. “He’s multi-talented.”
Players gather and react to Mike Tomlin telling them that Kenneth Gainwell was voted by them as Steelers team MVP pic.twitter.com/XWCqThWR3s
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) January 2, 2026
Signed to a bargain, one-year, $1.7 million contract in March after four seasons serving as a backup to three different running backs for the Philadelphia Eagles, Gainwell will finish the season as the Steelers’ leader in receptions (65) and yards from scrimmage (949). He enters Sunday’s regular-season finale tied for second on the team in touchdowns with seven.
Though initially believed to be signed to fill a complementary role behind Jaylen Warren and perhaps even third-round pick Kaleb Johnson, Gainwell through 16 games has 109 carries for 527 yards and 65 catches for 422 yards, leaving him 51 scrimmage yards short of eclipsing 1,000 headed into Sunday night’s winner-take-all AFC North championship game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Gainwell has played more snaps than Warren, who is in his fourth season with the Steelers but was thought to have ascended to the No. 1 running back role after the free-agency departure of Najee Harris in March.
During five games this season, Gainwell has surpassed 100 yards from scrimmage. During two, he’s had a pair of touchdowns — including while serving a featured back’s role when Warren was out because of injury for the Sept. 28 win against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin.
Gainwell has also served as the Steelers’ primary kickoff returner, averaging 24.0 yards on 25 opportunities.
Gainwell served as the No. 2 running back from 2021-24 with Philadelphia, with Miles Sanders (2021-22), D’Andre Swift (2023) and Saquon Barkley (2024) serving as the primary back. Each made the Pro Bowl over that stretch.
“He really got on our radar when we played him a year ago in Philadelphia,” Tomlin said last week. “He was really significant in that game. He returned kicks, covered kicks, made a tackle on kickoff. He converted a couple significant third downs in the first half that produced I think 17 points for them. You know, just Saquon casts a large shadow, so we thought he was a capable guy and there was more there if given an opportunity, and I think he’s proven that.”
Outside linebacker T.J. Watt had won five of the previous six team MVP awards. Gainwell is the first offensive player to win Steelers MVP since receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in 2018.
Other possible candidates for this year’s award included quarterback Aaron Rodgers, defensive tackle Cameron Heyward and defensive back Jalen Ramsey.
Videos taken by media during the open period of practice caught coach Mike Tomlin approaching Gainwell to shake his hand.
“Congratulations sir, it’s well deserved,” Tomlin said.
Mike Tomlin congratulates Kenneth Gainwell after the RB receives the Steelers’ MVP award: “Congratulations sir, it’s well deserved.”@kennethgainwel pic.twitter.com/Jen6iIWZWJ
— Chris Harlan (@CHarlan_Trib) January 2, 2026
