Retired Steelers Greats Salute Kenneth Gainwell
March 23rd, 2026
Steelers great James Harrison.
New Bucs running back Kenneth Gainwell earned a very high level of respect in a hurry during his lone Steelers season last year.
And the bar is crazy high in Pittsburgh, where the last losing season was in 2003 and several Hall of Fame players have walked through the doors.
Joe dialed up the Deebo & Joe podcast yesterday to hear what hosts and former Steelers great James Harrison and Joe Haden had to say about Gainwell.
Man, they sure love the guy. Haden was adamant that Gainwell gave everything he had at all times, so he deserves applause walking out the Steelers door.
“He went hard. He did everything he had to do. It’s not like he cut corners because he didn’t like Pittsburgh,” Haden said of Gainwell.
Harrison really emphasized how Gainwell was voted team MVP by Steelers players last year.
Both believed Gainwell was being serious when he told Tampa reporters that he’s been hungry to return to playing in the south. He grew up in Mississippi went to college at Memphis.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:30 am
Kenneth Gainwell is a really tough blue collar RB
He’s the total opposite of White, Tucker, Irving
I know the coaches will love him because he’s willing to do whatever
Bucky temper tantrum on the sidelines, might have lost him some respectability
I’m glad we have Gainwell
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:33 am
Suddenly he is MVP Super Bowl Hero.
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:39 am
HC Grover Says:
March 23rd, 2026 at 10:33 am
Suddenly he is MVP Super Bowl Hero
Obviously, you can’t read either ..not one time did the article say he was a Super Bowl hero. You just like to see yourself complain. Go support another team if you are so miserable and unhappy with the Bucs
March 23rd, 2026 at 11:28 am
I have a really good feeling about Kenneth Gainwell. I think he is an upgrade from White. We may end up with a very solid running attack with this stable.
March 23rd, 2026 at 11:28 am
#99 the big fella Says:
“Go support another team if you are so miserable and unhappy with the Bucs”
He probably does and just likes to troll division rivals.
March 23rd, 2026 at 11:33 am
HAHA I just like reality vs fairy tales. He was unknown now he is a Super Hero in hypeville. Happens every year. Then reality strikes when the season starts. Bucs will struggle to win 8.
March 23rd, 2026 at 11:41 am
would like to hear more about a.robinson…imo, his signing is more impactful…why havent had a dude like him next to vita since suh
GO BUCS!!!!
March 23rd, 2026 at 11:53 am
Licht is having a very very good off-season. Every acquisition has been better than the people they are coming in to replace. Are there still holes? 0 of course but this is a solid rebuild.
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:09 pm
The more I ponder, the more I actually really love signing Gainwell. We don’t need no stinkin’ fast TE, we just need to have continuity at the RB position.
On paper, this is a great signing.
D-Rok Says:
March 23rd, 2026 at 11:30 am
I think this was a savvy move by the Bucs, bordering on really smart, to get Gainwell.
Both backs are similar in skills – – meaning (IMO) that when one gets hurt, the game plan or playbook won’t change that much.
I’m still excited about Pony package – the 2-back set with Buck N Gain both in backfield. Defenses won’t have a clue run or pass, and then, as the article alluded to, all the options of flexing 1 to the slot or in motion. Heck, they could even go 5-wide by flexing both RB’s out, then motioning 1 or both back in.
I think the signing was “really smart” becuz it gives the OC many, many possibilities without yielding a tell.
Excited to see what a competent OC can do with these 2.
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:14 pm
This was our best signing
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:35 pm
Let’s see how he does in camp.
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:36 pm
He sure sounds like a good signing. I wouldn’t polish his knob just yet if I were you.
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:39 pm
High praise indeed Joe. The MVP from his teammates says loads. Don’t they have a QB that’s supposed to be pretty good? LOL
Go Bucs!
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:40 pm
Just because someone wasn’t aware of a good player doesn’t make them a Super Bowl hero. The guy is a solid RB who excels at catching passes. A major upgrade and will complement Bucky nicely. Now we just need to add a power back to round out our backfield.
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:44 pm
@BucsFan28,
Well-said. Agree.
March 23rd, 2026 at 12:55 pm
Wait, Tampa is ‘The South’. As Tampa native that moved to Georgia 20 years ago, think Kenny will be in for a culture shock.
March 23rd, 2026 at 1:34 pm
HC how do you figure we win 8 games ? Bucs are slightly better than the 24 Bucs when we had coen and we won 10 games that season. Zac might not be Coen but he’s deff an upgrade from grizz. Middle of the defense got an upgrade. At least 1 so far. Dline got an attitude adjustment. Rookie DBs got good experience and should get better. Kancey coming back healthy will be a big help now only if he can stay healthy. We’re not looking as bad as some make us out to be
March 23rd, 2026 at 1:38 pm
The problem with this analysis is the blaming of the offense for stinking out loud in general last season. We had a rookie play caller and a beat up offensive line. Lots of injuries to many other positions on and off. I find the offense and their issues a lot more excusable than a decently healthy defense still playing terribly and special teams so bad (except for the kicker) that is single-handedly cost us a couple games.
All three facets need to improve a lot but defense has the least excuse for sucking like they did considering our head coach being the defensive coordinator. Maybe he didn’t have the horses but he did help draft and approve FAs. Were they relying that much on Kancey and Walker to carry things? Was Dennis & Reddick supposed to be All Pro? 🫤
March 23rd, 2026 at 1:48 pm
#1 Bucs fan true you have to go couple hundred miles north to get in the south from here!
March 23rd, 2026 at 1:58 pm
so why didnt the steelers sign gainwell? too cheap? or did the bucs pay too much so gainwell had no choice but to leave.
March 23rd, 2026 at 2:13 pm
He’s going to be in shock once he sees how Bowles coaches a game.
Huge drop off from his former coach Tomlin.
As a depth piece he is a solid signing.
In the end it won’t matter because the defense can’t stop a wet fart.
Good thing we extended Todd for three more years…..
March 23rd, 2026 at 2:21 pm
$7M per year is a lot to pay for a #2 RB……
Sounds to me like Gainwell is coming in ready to rock and the Bucs expect him to play a major role in this offense….
Will this legit competition for snaps cause Bucky to step his game up to the elite level we saw many flashes of during his rookie year?
That would be something wouldn’t it? To have 2 dynamic, do it all type RBs – and the 3rd guy runs sub 4.4 with solid running ability as well….
If the OLine can stay healthy – I look for the Bucs offense to be dramatically improved this year vs 2025….. like 5 or 6 points per game better….
March 23rd, 2026 at 2:45 pm
New linebacker alert: LB Christian Rozeboom
March 23rd, 2026 at 2:46 pm
Bucs just got more mlb depth with christian rozeboom. Anything is better then Dennis at this point
March 23rd, 2026 at 2:47 pm
Good run defender. A little better pass defender then dennis.
March 23rd, 2026 at 2:56 pm
Gainwell is the highest paid RB on the team. Will Bucky pout? Will Zach utilize Coen style run schemes to open up the offense with both backs? Will the Oline remain healthy? Will the draft provide enough help for depth on the oline, LBs, and secondary? Will we shore up the Dline?
Wide range of outcomes for the number of wins this season with all the question marks. At least Gainwell looks like part of the solution.
March 23rd, 2026 at 3:14 pm
No Christian Rozeboom new yet Joe? Another ILB that can defend the run and played pretty well against the pass last season
March 23rd, 2026 at 3:16 pm
If only we had gone after one of the game-changing DE’s for our Defense like we did this guy……..
March 23rd, 2026 at 3:28 pm
Wow, signing this. Christian guy is a pretty good get. And we stole him from the Panthers. Their leading tackler I believe.
March 23rd, 2026 at 3:34 pm
Since both inside linebackers, we signed are starter caliber, I’m not sure if this means that David is definitely retiring or if he’s willing to take a part-time role with the team.
March 23rd, 2026 at 3:35 pm
He’s a good depth signing
Going into camp competing for a backup role
March 23rd, 2026 at 3:36 pm
This guy is a depth signing
He will have the opportunity to compete for a backup ILB position
March 23rd, 2026 at 3:51 pm
fits right in cant cover tight ends
March 23rd, 2026 at 3:56 pm
The new linebacker has been a starter the last 2 years. It doesn’t feel like a depth signing, however, if it is for once, we will have good depth at the position.
March 23rd, 2026 at 3:57 pm
“HC how do you figure we win 8 games ?”
We better not win 8-games. In more ways than just one. If we win 8-games, then this FO/GM/HC did NOT do their jobs and let us down. Again, in more ways than one. Either which way you want to look at it. Unless, it’s an exact repeat as last season and it’s another EPIC COLLAPSE, when they were sitting at 6-2 just before the trade-deadline. Not very much you can do about that. It’s just a real bad job all around. Nothing you can do.
BUT, if they are 2-6 at the ‘deadline’ this season, and then end up ‘winning’ 8-Games AFTER refusing to move EVERY available asset and TANK… Then, we’ve got a HUGE problem. It would literally be THE WORST thing that could ever happen. Then, here we go again. They’ll make even more of the same excuses and say, “well, if not for all those ‘injuries’ again, and we did finish strong down the stretch, ya know – they never quit, & etc. etc.”
That means ANOTHER YEAR of Lickt and Bowles. We’ll be sitting there watching them both in the war room on 2027 Draft Day, and thinking… “They’reeee Baaaackkkk. FML.” LoL. Only delaying the inevitable. It is a doom loop. Got to just rip the band-aid off. I will be shocked if they win 8-games anyway! I can’t see it. I’ve watched an astronomical amount of football over the past 40-years, and THIS looks and smells-like a Bottom-5 team in the NFC to me.
March 23rd, 2026 at 4:05 pm
Steven007
We will have excellent depth at ILB
Starters
Anzalone
Rookie
Depth
Rozeboom
Dennis
March 23rd, 2026 at 4:07 pm
At least we don’t have to waste 2 picks on ILB now
March 23rd, 2026 at 4:11 pm
Even if Rozeboom or Dennis win the starting job in camp
We will still have excellent depth with the rookie
As long as he’s not a premium draft pick
If he’s a premium draft pick, then he’s expected to start
Jason Licht may not draft a ILB early as expected
March 23rd, 2026 at 4:15 pm
This team can finish 2ND in the South, and STILL be a Bottom-5 Team in the NFC. If they are better than Arizona, and Washington. I don’t see a lot of movement in the NFC this season. I think the Cowboys, and possibly even the Giants (depending on what they do in the draft and with their overall health, especially at QB), can threaten Philly for tops in the East. Other than that, the ‘pecking order’ in the NFC appears to be pretty well established. Both, the North and West are LOADED. Who knows what Kyler Murray might do with THOSE weapons and HC-OC. They could easily, threaten their division again!!!!
March 23rd, 2026 at 4:38 pm
I’m sure Bowles will have Rozeboom out wide in pass coverage.
He is a Guru after all.
March 23rd, 2026 at 4:47 pm
Jeremiyah Love
Tough decision if Love drops to the Bucs.
6′, 215 lbs, 4.3×40. Crazy stats. Dominant in college.
I’d take him.
March 23rd, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Love won’t fall out of the top 4, let alone get to 15. Ain’t happening so dont worry about it.
March 23rd, 2026 at 5:03 pm
I disagree Love goes in top 4 but no way he slides to 15
March 23rd, 2026 at 6:34 pm
MelvinJunior Says:
March 23rd, 2026 at 3:57 pm
“HC how do you figure we win 8 games ?”
We better not win 8-games……
__________________________________
MelJr: “Tank”, “Tank”, “Tank” “Tank”……
Let’s attend or tune in to see our team find success after a very frustrating year.
It’s not looking so bleak to actual fans.
Go Bucs — come back strong in ’26!
March 23rd, 2026 at 8:42 pm
If Love drops to 15, everybody will wonder why and be afraid to pick him.