The Pittsburgh Steelers are signing former Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports.
The deal is valued at $12.25 million over two years, according to the report.
Dowdle posted back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons for the Dallas Cowboys and Panthers in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Now he’ll join Jaylen Warren in the backfield in Pittsburgh. The Steelers lost running back Kenneth Gainwell in free agency earlier Monday to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, creating a void in the backfield.
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Who will take the lead in Pittsburgh?
The signing sets up an intriguing backfield tandem in Pittsburgh. Warren, 27, was the starter and lead back for the Steelers last season while tallying 1,291 yards and eight touchdowns from scrimmage and averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
Rico Dowdle is leaving the Panthers for the Steelers after back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
(Kevin Sabitus via Getty Images)
Dowdle, also 27, established himself as a No. 1 back in Dallas in 2024 and supplanted Chuba Hubbard as Carolina’s lead back in his only season with the Panthers. He posted 1,373 yards and 7 touchdowns from scrimmage last season and averaged 4.6 yards per carry.
Both players are capable pass catchers out of the backfield. Now the two will share the ball, presuming the Steelers don’t have other plans.
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As for who will join them under center in the backfield next season, that remains unclear. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is a free agent and hasn’t announced yet whether he’ll play football at all next season at 42 years old, much less whether he’ll do so for the Steelers. After a solid showing in 2025, he’s presumably Pittsburgh’s top choice. If he doesn’t return, the Steelers will be left to scramble at football’s most important position.
Who will take over in Carolina?
The Panthers, meanwhile, will be forced to figure out their backfield after Dowdle played a key role in their surprise run to the NFC South title last season for their first playoff appearance since 2017.
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Hubbard is 26 years old and remains under contract. But he lost his starting job last season as his yards per carry dropped from 4.8 in 2024 to 3.8 in 2025.
Promising third-year running back Jonathon Brooks — a second-round pick in the 2024 draft — is also on the roster. Two ACL tears cost Brooks all but nine games of his rookie season and the entirety of his 2025 campaign.
If he can stay healthy and return to form, he’s an intriguing option to compete for the lead role in Carolina’s backfield alongside quarterback Bryce Young.