An undrafted junior-college journeyman who became the Steelers' most trusted back, Jaylen Warren just posted the best season of his career.
Jaylen Warren's path ran through a junior college and two more college stops before he ever got a shot at Oklahoma State, and he turned that opportunity into an NFL career nobody drafted him for. Now Pittsburgh's lead back, he has developed into one of the league's more productive dual-threat runners.
Path to the league
Warren played at Snow College and Utah State before transferring to Oklahoma State for his final college season, where he rushed for 1,216 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named the 2021 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year. Undrafted in 2022, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and made the roster.
Career highlights
Warren steadily climbed Pittsburgh's depth chart from undrafted rookie to lead back, praised around the league, including by Aaron Rodgers, for his contact balance and receiving ability out of the backfield. He has become a core part of the Steelers' offensive identity as a versatile every-down back.
2025 season recap
Warren set career highs in 2025, rushing 211 times for 958 yards and six touchdowns while adding 40 receptions for 333 yards and two more scores through the air. His 251 touches and 1,291 scrimmage yards made him Pittsburgh's clear offensive centerpiece in a timeshare with Kenneth Gainwell.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Jaylen Warren
- Pro Football Reference: Jaylen Warren
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Rushing
16 games played▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | steelers | 16 | 211 | 958 | 4.5 | 6 | 45 |
| 2024 | steelers | 15 | 120 | 511 | 4.3 | 1 | 22 |
| 2023 | steelers | 17 | 149 | 784 | 5.3 | 4 | 74 |
| 2022 | steelers | 16 | 77 | 379 | 4.9 | 1 | 31 |
▶Receiving · career
| Year | Team | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | steelers | 16 | 40 | 333 | 8.3 | 2 | 65 |
| 2024 | steelers | 15 | 38 | 310 | 8.2 | 0 | 29 |
| 2023 | steelers | 17 | 61 | 370 | 6.1 | 0 | 30 |
| 2022 | steelers | 16 | 28 | 214 | 7.6 | 0 | 26 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Running Back
- Group
- offense
- College
- Oklahoma State
- Hometown
- Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
