Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season is almost upon us, and the have already settled some position battles during training camp. At running back, the Steelers will be rolling with as their number one option, with Rico Dowdle being RB2, at least heading into the new campaign. Both of them, of course, will have their time to impress over the course of the season.
The Steelers will be deploying a new offense in 2026, with Mike McCarthy now being the team’s head coach after taking over from Mike Tomlin. This means that there is plenty of room for Warren and Dowdle to even share the field, considering that they have different skill sets. In fact, the Steelers gave them a nickname to reflect that of theirs: “This and That”.
The Steelers are calling the duo of Jaylen Warren and , ‘This That.’
How does that rank in recent RB duo nicknames?
Sonic & Knuckles: Gibbs & Montgomery
Thunder & Lightning: Howard & Cohen
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz)
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For what it’s worth, Steelers legend Jerome Bettis, the six-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer, bestowed upon them a different nickname, “Thunder and Lightning”. Alas, that nickname is already taken by another iconic duo in NFL history, with Jordan Howard and Tarik Cohen getting that moniker back when they were tearing up the opposition during their time together on the Chicago Bears.
Warren and Dowdle’s diverse skill sets should make them invaluable pieces of the Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers-led offense. The former recorded career-highs last year in 16 games (15 starts), recording 958 yards on 211 carries for an average of 4.54 yards per carry. Moreover, he completed 40 receptions on 45 targets, making him a versatile offensive threat.
Dowdle, meanwhile, has the strength to plow through multiple defenders. His powerful approach at running back means that McCarthy can rely on him to carry the ball many times throughout a contest (he had 236 attempts last year and rushed for 1,076 total yards) and give the Steelers the option to even if the passing game is not on point.
It’s now up to this Steelers running back duo to make “this and that” an iconic nickname as well.
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