As an undrafted free agent, Rico Dowdle is used to being overlooked. It’s not surprising that he bet on himself in 2025 on a one-year contract with the Carolina Panthers after gaining 1,300 scrimmage yards in 2024. He proved it by gaining 764 scrimmage yards in a five-game stretch while Chuba Hubbard was injured, but his role diminished down the stretch.
By the sound of it, he looks forward to showing the Panthers why they were wrong to lighten his workload last season. The Steelers will host the Panthers in 2026, a fact Dowdle is well aware of.
“It is definitely circled,” Dowdle said with a chuckle during his introductory press conference in Pittsburgh. “It’s definitely circled for sure.”
Of course, the dates of the games haven’t been announced yet, so he doesn’t literally have it circled. But there’s a good chance it will be physically circled upon schedule release a few weeks from now.
Dowdle was on a tear before the Panthers started taking touches away from him, which directly hurt his chances of earning more in free agency.
He was asked by Panthers reporters why his role declined at the end of the season. He bluntly said, “No idea,” per Mike Kaye and Alex Zietlow at The Charlotte Observer. He was given no explanation and added, “You definitely gotta take all of that into account, for sure. It is what it is. I can only control what I can control and go from there. But it definitely plays a factor.”
He lives his life with a chip on his shoulder, and the Steelers should love that.
Dowdle went through a similar situation in Dallas the year prior with over 1,300 scrimmage yards and the team letting him walk in free agency. He ended up having quite the revenge game against the Cowboys with 30 carries for 183 rushing yards and another four receptions for 56 receiving yards in Week 6 last season.
Rico Dowdle already gave Dallas a reminder of what it lost. Carolina may get the same treatment when the Panthers come to Pittsburgh.