Steelers A to Z: 3 years the backup, Jaylen Warren enters camp as the featured RB1

Editor’s note: From now until reporting day to training camp at Saint Vincent College, TribLive is running through the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 90-man roster, looking at each player and assessing his outlook for the 2025 season. The breakdown will run in alphabetical order with at least two players each day between June 12 and July 23. Contract data courtesy spotrac.com.

RB JAYLEN WARREN

Experience/age: Fourth season, 26

Contract status: $5.346 million cap hit in 2025, after which scheduled for unrestricted free agency

The past: Warren concluded a nomadic college career by rushing for 1,216 yards and 11 touchdowns for Oklahoma State in 2021. Prior to that, he had spent two seasons each at a Utah junior college (Snow) and Utah State. Undrafted in 2022, Warren stood out during training camp and made the team. As a rookie, he served as the No. 2 running back to workhorse Najee Harris but by Year 2 he was in a virtual split (49% of the offensive snaps). That continued last season, although Warren missed two games because of a hamstring injury. Warren quickly established himself as the Steelers’ third-down back and solidified himself in that role over the past three years. Warren was trusted in pass protection and became a viable receiver out of the backfield.

Throughout his pro career, Warren has 1,674 rushing yards on 346 carries (4.8 yards per attempt), 127 catches, 894 receiving yards and six total touchdowns. He also served as a kickoff returner last season.

What a block by Jaylen Warren! #Steelers pic.twitter.com/xkaJmJkeBn

— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) December 23, 2023

2025 outlook: Harris left in free agency after the Steelers made little attempt to re-sign him, and the Steelers offered Warren a second-round tender as a restricted free agent. Warren accepted the $5.35 million salary, a figure that is more than double what Warren made combined over his first three pro seasons. The absence of Harris combined with the financial commitment to Warren suggests Warren will be taking on the featured back role. But that doesn’t include the selection of Kaleb Johnson out of Iowa in the third round of the draft. Longer-term, Johnson likely projects as more of a “first- and second-down”-type back. But will Johnson show he is ready for that kind of workload immediately?

Also complicating the Steelers’ backfield division of labor was the signing of Kenneth Gainwell, who for the past four seasons served as the third-down back for what was one of the best teams in the NFL over that span — the Philadelphia Eagles. It will be interesting to see how running back roles shake out, and that will play itself out over training camp. But the safest bet of all is that no matter what happens that Warren will play a major part in it.