The narrative surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers backfield has been messy for years. You’ve probably heard it all by now. People used to say Jaylen Warren was just a change-of-pace guy, a third-down specialist who looked better than Najee Harris simply because he faced "lighter boxes."
Then came the 2025 season.
Things changed. Fast.
Honestly, if you’re still looking at Warren as just a "scrappy undrafted kid," you’re missing the boat. He didn't just survive the 2025 campaign; he redefined what the Steelers' offense looks like under Arthur Smith. He went from a restricted free agent with a lot to prove to a man with a fresh $17.5 million contract extension through 2027.
The Myth of the "Easy" Yard
There’s this weird idea that Warren only gets yards because defenses are tired. It’s sort of a lazy take.
In 2025, Warren handled 211 carries. That’s not a "gadget" workload. He put up 958 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Most importantly, he did it while dealing with a rotating door of offensive line health and the typical "Steelering" drama.
When you dig into the advanced metrics from PFF and Next Gen Stats, the "efficiency" argument holds up even under heavy volume. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry this past season. While that’s a slight dip from his insane 5.3 mark back in 2023, you have to look at the context.
He was the guy. The target.
Defenses weren't playing the pass as much with the Steelers' quarterback situation fluctuating. They were keyed in on #30. Yet, he still finished 10th among all RBs in PFF grade (81.4). That doesn't happen by accident or just by running through wide-open holes.
Why the "Thunder and Lightning" Label is Dead
For a long time, the media loved the Najee Harris (Thunder) and Jaylen Warren (Lightning) comparison. It’s a clean story. Easy to digest.
It’s also basically wrong.
Warren is 5’8” and 215 pounds. He’s built like a bowling ball made of rebar. He doesn't run "around" people as much as he runs through their souls. According to 2025 data, he forced a missed tackle on nearly 30% of his rushes. That was top-five in the NFL.
He’s not just fast; he’s violent.
The Kenneth Gainwell Factor
The arrival of Kenneth Gainwell in 2025 actually tells us a lot about how the team views Warren. Gainwell was brought in to be the actual lightning. This allowed Warren to transition into the primary grinder role.
- Warren: 211 carries, 40 receptions.
- Gainwell: Used primarily in passing situations and late-game relief.
Warren is now the bell cow, even if it’s a modern, "Arthur Smith-style" bell cow where a committee still exists. He played through a hip injury in late December and an illness that nearly sidelined him for the Wild Card game against the Texans. He’s the engine.
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The Contract: Why the Steelers Paid Up
In September 2025, the Steelers did something they rarely do: they gave a significant multi-year extension to an undrafted free agent running back before he even hit the open market.
The deal? $12 million guaranteed.
That is a massive statement of intent. It basically signaled the end of the Najee Harris era in Pittsburgh. The team declined Harris's fifth-year option earlier, and by the time 2026 rolled around, it was clear whose locker room this was.
Warren’s cap hit for 2026 sits at about $7.03 million. For a top-10 graded back who also happens to be one of the best pass-protectors in the league, that’s a steal. If you watch the film, Warren’s blitz pickups are legendary. He hits linebackers with the same velocity he hits the hole.
What Really Happened in the 2025 Playoffs?
The Wild Card loss to Houston (30-6) left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.
Warren had 12 carries for 43 yards. It looks pedestrian on paper. But if you watch the tape, he was essentially the only Steeler creating yards after contact. The Texans' defensive front, led by Will Anderson Jr., was lived in the Pittsburgh backfield.
Warren was under the weather—literally dealing with a fever—and still outproduced every other skill player on the roster. It showed a level of "availability is the best ability" that the coaching staff obsessed over.
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Actionable Insights for 2026
If you're following Warren for fantasy or just as a fan, here is what actually matters for the upcoming season:
- Workload Stability: With Kenneth Gainwell and Kaleb Williams (the 3rd rounder) in the mix, don't expect 300 carries. Warren is most effective in the 15-18 touch range. That's his sweet spot for maintaining that high explosive run rate.
- The Receiving Ceiling: Warren’s target share dipped slightly in 2025 (45 targets vs 74 in 2023). This is due to the offensive scheme changes. Expect this to normalize as the team looks for more "easy" completions to move the chains.
- Ball Security: This is the one legitimate gripe. He had a fumble issue in the past, but he only put the ball on the turf once in the 2025 regular season. He's fixed the "bread loaf" carrying style.
Jaylen Warren isn't an underdog anymore. He's an established, highly-paid starter in one of the most physical divisions in football. The "Lightning" tag is gone—he’s just the Storm now.
To get the most out of watching or scouting Warren this year, focus on his pre-snap alignment. The Steelers have started moving him into the slot more frequently to exploit mismatches against slower linebackers. If he starts seeing 4-5 targets a game again, he’s not just a top-20 back; he’s a fringe All-Pro candidate.