Steelers’ Mike Tomlin breaks down Kenneth Gainwell’s MNF breakout game appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

While the Pittsburgh Steelers had a number of heroes in their Monday Night Football win over the Miami Dolphins, from Aaron Rodgers, to Jonnu Smith, DK Metcalf, and their defensive line, one player who stepped up in a major way was one of the more unlikely members of Arthur Smith’s offense: Kenneth Gainwell.

That’s right, in a game where Jaylen Warren was active after being questionable right up to gametime, Gainwell exploded in a major way, amassing 126 yards between the ground and the passing game to lead the Steelers to their eighth win of the season.

Asked about Gainwell’s huge game against a team teetering on the edge of playoff elimination, Tomlin celebrated the 2025 free agent addition for seemingly always bringing something to the table when his team needs it most.

“When things are less than ideal, that’s what we’ve come to expect from him. Jalen missed Dublin, for example, and he played big out there,” Tomlin explained. “He brings that energy, man. He’s a football player, and we’re thankful to have him on our team.”

Originally drafted in the fifth round out of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Memphis, Gainwell was an instrumental part of multiple Philadelphia Eagles teams with Super Bowl aspirations, including the team that actually got it done earlier this year against the Kansas City Chiefs. Landing in Pittsburgh in free agency after the season, Gainwell has rapidly become a favorite of Rodgers, where his pass-catching abilities have allowed him to become a reliable outlet pass when his early reads are locked up.

Should opposing teams put a little more respect on Gainwell’s name after his huge showing? Probably, as with a playoff push rapidly approaching, it’s clear Gainwell will only become a bigger part of the Steelers’ offense down the stretch.