If Kenneth Gainwell is to be believed, he might have been the least-surprised individual to hear the news that he had been named the Pittsburgh Steelers’ MVP.
The running back was announced Friday as the recipient of the 2025 honor, determined via a vote of his teammates. But Gainwell — a four-year NFL backup before joining the Steelers this spring — said he was not “at all” shocked.
“I think I put in enough work,” he said after Friday’s practice at Acrisure Stadium. “And everybody on this team puts in a lot of work to do what they have to do, but I think I do have a lot of friends in guys on this team and people that see me work real hard. And I appreciate them.”
Players gather and react to Mike Tomlin telling them that Kenneth Gainwell was voted by them as Steelers team MVP pic.twitter.com/XWCqThWR3s
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) January 2, 2026
Signed to a bargain, one-year, $1.7 million contract in March after four seasons serving in a complementary role to three different running backs for the Philadelphia Eagles, Gainwell will finish the season as the Steelers’ leader in receptions (65) and is assured of finishing second in yards from scrimmage (949). Gainwell enters Sunday’s regular-season finale tied for second on the team in touchdowns with seven.
Though initially believed to be signed as a secondary option to starting running back Jaylen Warren — and perhaps even third-round pick Kaleb Johnson — Gainwell through 16 games has 109 carries for 527 yards and 65 catches for 422 yards, leaving him within striking distance of eclipsing 1,000 scrimmage yards headed into Sunday night’s winner-take-all AFC North championship game against the Baltimore Ravens.
“I think (winning it via vote of his peers) is the highest you can go to get team MVP,” Gainwell said. “I mean, the guys know what the MVP can go out there and do. It just feels good to have that coming from them.”
Gainwell has played more snaps than Warren, who is in his fourth season with the Steelers but was thought to have ascended to the No. 1 running back role after the free-agency departure of Najee Harris in March.
Videos taken by media during the open period of practice caught coach Mike Tomlin approaching Gainwell to shake his hand.
“Congratulations, certainly deserved,” Tomlin said.
Mike Tomlin congratulates Kenneth Gainwell after the RB receives the Steelers’ MVP award: “Congratulations sir, it’s well deserved.”@kennethgainwel pic.twitter.com/Jen6iIWZWJ
— Chris Harlan (@CHarlan_Trib) January 2, 2026
In five games this season, Gainwell surpassed 100 yards from scrimmage. In two, he had a pair of touchdowns, including while serving a featured back’s role when Warren was out because of injury for the Sept. 28 win against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin.
Gainwell also has served as the Steelers’ primary kickoff returner, averaging 24.0 yards on 25 opportunities.
Gainwell was Philadelphia’s No. 2 running back from 2021-24 behind Miles Sanders (2021-22), D’Andre Swift (2023) and Saquon Barkley (2024). Each made the Pro Bowl over that stretch.
But from the start of training camp in Pittsburgh, Gainwell appeared to be staking a claim for a much more significant role in the offense. He has been used in virtually all situations — from early downs to obvious passing plays — and he has lined up not only in the backfield but running routes like a wide receiver.
“He’s just provided nothing but spark and consistency,” said Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III, a former teammate of Gainwell’s at the University of Memphis. “It’s good that what he can do on the football field isn’t a secret anymore. Not that it has been. I feel like I’ve always been saying from the beginning he’s one of the best football players I’ve ever played with. It is cool that the world can see the teammate he is and just the impact he’s made.”
Outside linebacker T.J. Watt had won five of the previous six team MVP awards. Gainwell is the first offensive player to win Steelers MVP since receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster in 2018.
“A lot goes into that vote, honestly,” Watt said. “It’s not a vote that any of us take lightly. It’s a huge honor, and Kenny G, man, he’s made so many plays in the run and in the pass. A great teammate as well. He works hard. I can’t say enough great things about him as a player and as a teammate. So I’m just excited for him.”
