Buccaneers Sign RB Kenneth Gainwell To Fat Contract
March 9th, 2026
Another weapon has landed in Tampa.
Running back Kenneth Gainwell, with the Steelers last year after four seasons with the Eagles, has agreed to terms with the Buccaneers. Per Jeremy Fowler of BSPN, it’s a two-year deal for $14 million.
Bucky Irving now has competition.
Gainwell, who turns 27 next week, caught 73 balls for the Steelers last year — for 486 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also rushed 114 times for 537 carries (4.7 yards per carry. Gainwell is also a solid kick returner and a good pass blocker.
Steelers player voted Gainwell their MVP of last season.
That’s a big price tag for Gainwell. Will he be better than Rachaad White? He should be at least as good.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:21 pm
Super bowl baby!
March 9th, 2026 at 1:22 pm
I like it. Very explosive player.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Solid
March 9th, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Gainwell still has tread left, multi dimensional should be a great replacement for White.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Well, I like it, but I am expecting much more Defense news, rather than this, Draft will not be good enough for D
March 9th, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Don’t know much about him. I guess no Allegier huh??
March 9th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
They just signed Alex Anzalone!!!
March 9th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
we;re signing Anzalone as well
March 9th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
Better than White-Good Signing
March 9th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
Bucs just signed Alex Anzalone from Detroit too
March 9th, 2026 at 1:24 pm
73 receptions is a lot!
March 9th, 2026 at 1:26 pm
Gotta run better than dancing White. If he can catch too, we’re good. He stats look like he can catch.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Perfect back to pair with Bucky. Will be a machine on 3rd downs
March 9th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
Good get and legit competition for Irving, who didn’t help himself with that mental breakdown last season.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:27 pm
“73 receptions is a lot”
What’s even better is that he didn’t catch a ton of passes behind the LOS, so his production of 486 yards comes with a -46 “yards before catch” makes the 528 yards after catch look even more impressive.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:28 pm
Allegier, would have been better IMO…….. Let’s go Bucs! Let’s get M1K3 now!!!!
March 9th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Gainwell, Anzalone and Otton… not much money gonna be left for Mike or Trey is what I am seeing.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
Upgrade from White. More explosive, faster.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
He’s a really good second RB. Run and catch. Explosive.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:37 pm
It’s interesting they signed a RB that’s more like Bucky than not. Usually you want a different style or body type back there as a 1-2 tandem and paying an RB $7million a year implies that. The Bucs have been saying that Zac is gonna be better for everyone and more like Liam’s offense than what Grizz did. Well our offense shined that season under Coen and Bucky was a huge part of that and his style. So this almost feels like a bit of insurance in the backfield as well. Do the Bucs know something or are they somewhat nervous behind the scenes about Bucky and that situation? Is that physical (shoulder), mental (which we found out was a big issue last season until proven otherwise), combination of both….
🤷♂️ the signing just has a feeling of Bucky in mind as I thought if we were going to drop $7-8 million a year on a RB, it would be for more of an Allgeier type.
I really like the idea of resigning Tucker back for sure now if he can be had on a deal. Otherwise we need a bigger body back in the upcoming Draft and a little more thunder to the lightning.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:40 pm
Like it, a lot. Can’t stand when offenses build a stable of specialists at one position group, especially RB. Tips your hand every time you sub a back. Gainwell & Bucky are interchangeable. They’re both three down backs who can do it all. Come to think of it, so too can Josh Williams.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:42 pm
Like this move he is killer in space and has a burst white did not sad to say…but im not sure if he pass blocks better than white, expect a larger role for tucker
March 9th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
It depends on how the contracts are structured, they could be hading out lots of cash to spread the cap hit.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
Love the signing tho
Smiling with all 3 moves made to by Bucs (AA, KG & Cade)
March 9th, 2026 at 1:48 pm
not much tread on his tires until last year, when he was a thousand yard back…
but i find this to be pretty much a “meh” type signing…
hoping they prove me wrong
March 9th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
Seems like a big overpay but what do I know? He balled out quite a few times last year
March 9th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
wouldn’t white have returned on a 2 year 10 mil deal……….?
14 mil for gainswell has me pondering
March 9th, 2026 at 1:49 pm
Best overall running back free agent great pick except for walker but KC swifts paid him 15 mil a year. Seems like Gainwell was a bargain in that respect.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
“He also rushed 114 times for 537 carries”
Think you meant yards there Joe!
March 9th, 2026 at 1:50 pm
seems like someone at bucs has close ties to tomlin . tomlin probably gave the go ahead on this move
March 9th, 2026 at 1:55 pm
Cardinals signed Allgeir for less than we signed Gainwell….interesting.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
algaear signed for 2 years 12 mil…
did the bucs overpay this guy just to piss white off…lol
March 9th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
Bucs overpaid for Gainwell.
Bucs overpaid for Otton and Gainwell while their defense needs help.
March 9th, 2026 at 1:58 pm
Don’t know much about this guy. I’d prefer white but hey he’s a buc. Welcome. Let’s go.
March 9th, 2026 at 2:00 pm
weapon?? this guy??? lmao
March 9th, 2026 at 2:02 pm
Def an upgrade over White. Easy to see in the comments who doesn’t follow the NFL.
March 9th, 2026 at 2:06 pm
ettienne to saints…4 years 52 mil……….rb’s are getting paid now
March 9th, 2026 at 2:10 pm
Zac Robinson apparently liked Gainwell over Allgeier. Had experience with him at Atlanta, so apparently there was something he did not like on Allgeier’s game.
March 9th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
The Bucs signed a carbon copy of Bucky
Welcome to the Tampa Bay Midgets
March 9th, 2026 at 2:11 pm
Bucs new ST coach may have influenced this signing as Gainwell was his kick returner with the Stelers. Rachaad White as a kick returner with the Bucs did not go well. Gainwell can do everything as well as White and is a better returner. I would like to see the Bucs give Garrett Greene a legit shot to compete with Kam Johnson as punt returner.
March 9th, 2026 at 2:12 pm
kenneth gains yards well 🙂
March 9th, 2026 at 2:15 pm
Algeirs to the Cardinals
March 9th, 2026 at 2:16 pm
Without knowing the details of the contract, the numbers don’t mean much. But considering he’s a RB, I’d be surprised if it’s not really more like a 1-year $5M deal.
March 9th, 2026 at 2:20 pm
Fantastic signing!!! Solid RB, 3rd down weapon, pass pro, receiver and can play ST.
March 9th, 2026 at 2:20 pm
ummmmm…..
i think we need to sign a back up quarterback too lol
March 9th, 2026 at 2:22 pm
7mil for a guy that has never rushed for more than 500 yards.
Great Signing Jason
Another Licht Loser
Tucker could do that for 3m a year
March 9th, 2026 at 2:23 pm
Same build as Bucky imo. Bucky to can be a pass catching RB but can’t pass block. Can the new guy pass block? I still would find a 3rd back with fresh legs that can run in between the tackles. Neither are built for that.
March 9th, 2026 at 2:27 pm
“Can he pass block?” – Maybe read the article before going straight to comments
March 9th, 2026 at 2:31 pm
I’ve followed this kid since the draft. Just hearing the story of how he’s dedicated his career to his brother Curtis who had a severe stroke at age 18. I believe Curtis was a freshman at Southern Miss and it happened in the weight room. Anyway it was a touching story and I followed his career at the Eagles and Pittsburgh fairly close since. I’m happy he cashed in but not sure if it was the smartest move by the Bucs.
The comparisons to White are fair, I think Gainwell is a better runner in between the tackles but not as good as pass catcher or at pass pro. Gainwell is good to very good at both but White was great. It’s going to be interesting to see if White gets a similar contract or not. My guess is that he gets slightly less.
March 9th, 2026 at 2:40 pm
Prefer White
March 9th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Rodgers depended on this guy a lot last year with the Steelers. He has White’s passing catching ability plus a better pass blocker.
March 9th, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Watched him all year great pick!! Healthy and hard runner excellent backfield. One of the best free agents on market
March 9th, 2026 at 3:15 pm
Gainwell’s not that shabby, but I’d rather have had Algeier because of size. We’re too small right now. Would love to see the Bucs sign AJ Dillon (6′ & 247 lbs). Wouldn’t be very expensive
March 9th, 2026 at 3:25 pm
@Simeon4HOF
I agree. White was our best RB by a mile last year when Grizz utilized him correctly.
I watched Gainewells 2025 highlights. Not particularly explosive or elusive or fast that I could see but apparently he can block and has good hands catching the ball. We’ll see.
March 9th, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Prefer Tucker. Three years younger, tougher at the goal line. Both are career backups, but we just tripled Gainwell’s salary.
March 9th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
Really good signing. So we do not need Rashad White back now.