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.