PITTSBURGH —The Pittsburgh Steelers have named running back Kenneth Gainwell as the team MVP, the club announced on Friday . The award was voted on by the players.
Gainwell has certainly turned heads in his first season with the Steelers.
Through 16 games, Gainwell has rushed for 527 yards on 109 carries (4.8-yard average) and four touchdowns. He also has 65 receptions for 422 yards, a 6.5-yard average, and three touchdown receptions. His 422 receiving yards rank third on the team, behind receiver DK Metcalf and tight end Pat Freiermuth .
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said last Tuesday that he expected Gainwell to have an increased role in black and gold when the team signed him last offseason.
Gainwell's ground total is the highest of his career. As is his receiving output, which has complemented Metcalf. Gainwell was asked why he's been able to have such success with the Steelers.
" Aaron Rodgers . That's all I can say," Gainwell said. "Him trusting me, my hands, just doing the small things and just going out there and working."
Rodgers also gave high praise to Gainwell.
"Kenny's been unbelievable in the passing game. Just unbelievable," Rodgers said. "And he's so damn smart. I was telling him, 'I wish I had played with him for 10 years.' Just because the kind of player that he is. You just love playing with that guy."
Gainwell made arguably the play of the year when he caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers in the team's Week 16 win over the Detroit Lions .
NFL Films revealed that Rodgers improvised on the incredible 45-yard touchdown pass to Gainwell.
Rodgers told Gainwell to run a go route in the backfield, basically drawing up the play in the dirt.
"Motion all the way out, run a go. All the way out," Rodgers yelled to Gainwell before he made arguably the play of the year in the NFL.
Rodgers yelled to Gainwell after the touchdown, "You f****** baller, you f****** baller! Yeah!"
Rodgers then said as he was walking on the sideline, "Draw it up in the dirt, right?"
Gainwell fell to the turf and still managed to haul in the catch. He then had the awareness to get up and run for a touchdown to tie the game at 10-10 with two seconds remaining in the first half. Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone failed to touch Gainwell after he made the catch.
Steelers MVPs since 1969
1969 – Roy Jefferson, WR
1970 – Joe Greene, DT
1971 – Andy Russell, LB
1972 – Franco Harris, RB
1973 – Ron Shanklin, WR
1974 – Glen Edwards, S
1975 – Mel Blount, CB
1976 – Jack Lambert
, LB
1977 – Terry Bradshaw, QB
1978 – Terry Bradshaw, QB
1979 – John Stallworth, WR
1980 – Donnie Shell, SS
1981 – Jack Lambert, LB
1982 – Dwayne Woodruff, CB
1983 – Gary Anderson, K
1984 – John Stallworth, WR
1985 – Louis Lipps, WR
1986 – Bryan Hinkle, LB
1987 – Mike Merriweather, LB
1988 – David Little, LB & Rod Woodson, CB
1989 – Louis Lipps, WR
1990 – Rod Woodson, CB
1991 – Greg Lloyd, LB
1992 – Barry Foster, RB
1993 – Rod Woodson, CB
1994 – Greg Lloyd, LB
1995 – Neil O'Donnell, QB
1996 – Jerome Bettis, RB
1997 – Jerome Bettis, RB
1998 – Levon Kirkland, LB
1999 – Levon Kirkland, LB
2000 – Jerome Bettis, RB
2001 – Kordell Stewart, QB
2002 – Joey Porter, LB & Hines Ward, WR
2003 – Hines Ward, WR
2004 – James Farrior, LB
2005 – Casey Hampton, NT & Hines Ward, WR
2006 – Willie Parker
, RB
2007 – James Harrison
, LB
2008 – James Harrison, LB
2009 – Ben Roethlisberger
, QB
2010 – Troy Polamalu
, S
2011 – Antonio Brown
, WR
2012 – Heath Miller
, TE
2013 – Antonio Brown, WR
2014 – Le'Veon Bell, RB
2015 – Antonio Brown, WR
2016 – Le'Veon Bell, RB
2017 – Antonio Brown, WR
2018 – JuJu Smith-Schuster
, WR
2019 – T.J. Watt
, LB
2020 – T.J. Watt, LB
2021 – T.J. Watt, LB
2022 – Minkah Fitzpatrick
, S
2023 – T.J. Watt, LB
2024 – T.J. Watt, LB
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Pittsburgh.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Name Kenneth Gainwell Team MVP
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