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Agreeing to a deal with running back Rico Dowdle may not move the needle for many, but it could be a huge free-agency steal for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers agreed to a two-year, $12.25M deal with Dowdle on Tuesday morning (via NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport). The deal becomes official when the new league year begins on March 11 at 4 p.m. ET.
That’s a bargain for a back who has quietly been one of the most productive runners in the league over his past two seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers.
Why Steelers fans should be hyped about pending Rico Dowdle deal
Dowdle’s reported deal will pay him $6.125M per year. That’s not cheap, but it’s much less than other agreed RB deals. Kenneth Walker III is set to make $14.35M per season after agreeing to a three-year, $43.05M deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. RB Travis Etienne, meanwhile, is set to make $13M per year after agreeing to a four-year $52M deal with the New Orleans Saints.
Walker was a hot name after winning Super Bowl LX MVP, but Dowdle rushed for more yards during the regular season in 2025. He ranked 14th in the NFL in rushing yards (1,076 on 236 carries in 17 games for Carolina), while Walker finished 16th (1,027 on 221 carries in 17 games with the Seattle Seahawks).
Etienne ranked 11th in the league in rushing yards (1,107 in 17 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars), but he wasn’t sharing a backfield. Dowdle split carries with Panthers star Chuba Hubbard.
Dowdle averaged 13.9 carries per game, while Hubbard logged 8.9. Etienne recorded 15.3. The former Panther proved to be the more efficient runner, logging more yards per carry (4.6) than the former Jaguar (4.3). (Per Pro Football Reference, 4.4 yards per carry was the league average in 2025.)
Dowdle’s not just a one-season wonder, either. StatMuse credits him with 2,155 rushing yards since 2024, No. 11 in the NFL during that span. He has also ranked 10th in yards per carry (4.6).
Dowdle, who turns 28 on June 14, played for new Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy for five seasons in Dallas. Expect him to continue to play a big role in his scheme. The coach has said he loves Dowdle’s “angry” running style.
Dowdle said the Cowboys would need to “buckle up” before a Week 5 home game last season. He backed up that claim. The former undrafted free agent ran for a career-high 206 yards in a 27-24 win.
With that in mind, opponents should gear up before facing Dowdle and the Steelers next season. His pending deal with Pittsburgh is not being discussed as much as other free-agent additions, but it may be one of the most impactful.
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