Kenneth Gainwell, Bucs Agree to Contract in 2026 NFL Free Agency Amid Mike Evans Rumors

Running again Kenneth Gainwell is leaving Pittsburgh after a career-best 2025 season with the Steelers.

Gainwell agreed to a two-year, $14 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free company, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Monday.

The information comes amid uncertainty as to whether or not legendary Bucs receiver Mike Evans will return to Tampa Bay after testing free company.

Gainwell will flip 27 later this month. He hit unrestricted free company after the expiration of the one-year, $1.79 million contract I signed with the Steelers final offseason.

The Steelers had been initially anticipated to run with rookie operating again Kaleb Johnson as RB2 behind Jaylen Warren, however Gainwell finally received the spot earlier than the beginning of the common season.

That setup allowed Gainwell to file profession highs in carries (114) and dashing yards (537) whereas scoring a profession excessive with 5 dashing touchdowns.

Gainwell will now look to construct on that season with the Buccaneers, the place he’ll seemingly be splitting the backfield with Bucky Irving.

The Steelers might plan to give Johnson extra enjoying time in his second NFL marketing campaign after the 2025 third-round decide noticed restricted enjoying time in 10 video games final season.

Originally a fifth-round decide by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2021 draft, Gainwell performed 4 seasons with the Eagles prior to the expiration of his rookie contract.

He appeared in all 4 playoff video games throughout the Eagles’ run to a Super Bowl LX victory over the Kansas City Chiefs final winter.

Gainwell will now head into his sixth NFL season having totaled 1,722 dashing yards and 17 dashing touchdowns by 83 regular-season video games, in addition to 252 yards and one landing in 10 playoff appearances.