For a quarterback who has seen it all, it takes something special to make Aaron Rodgers wish he could turn back the clock. On Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kenneth Gainwell provided something special. The fifth-year running back has quietly become a reliable piece in the passing attack, especially alongside DK Metcalf. Following Pittsburgh’s dramatic 29–24 win over the Detroit Lions, Aaron Rodgers didn’t hide his appreciation for his RB.

“Kenny’s been unbelievable in the passing game. Just unbelievable,” Rodgers told the reporters after the win. “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.”

Those comments and Rodgers’ desire to play with the RB earlier in his career weren’t empty praise. They came right after one of the most complete performances of Gainwell’s career. The 26-year-old finished with 50 rushing yards on nine carries. But his biggest impact came through the air, where he led the team with five receptions for 78 yards, including a highlight-reel touchdown late in the first half that completely changed the tone of the game.

That moment mattered even more when you look at how badly the Steelers were struggling early. Over their first 31 offensive snaps, Pittsburgh scraped together just 113 yards, an anemic 3.6 per play. Then everything flipped. With 11 seconds left in the half and trailing 10–3, Rodgers lofted a deep ball toward Gainwell down the sideline. What followed was pure effort.

Gainwell fought through pass interference from Alex Anzalone, got a hand under the ball while lying on his back, secured the catch, got up untouched, and walked into the end zone. The play was so chaotic that it didn’t even seem like the officials believed it was a catch at first. But the replay told a different story. Clean control, no contact down, and touchdown.

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That score tied the game and completely flipped the momentum. Pittsburgh dominated early in the second half and never fully looked back. In the process, Gainwell recorded over 100 yards from scrimmage for the fifth time this season, with four of those performances coming since November 16.

So when Rodgers raves about his running back, it didn’t sound like exaggeration. It sounded like a quarterback recognizing someone who’s become essential. After all, it was Rodgers who called that play that helped the Steelers dominate in the second half.

Kenneth Gainwell credits Aaron Rodgers for the miracle touchdown

Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith struggled to have a smooth opening 30 minutes. In fact, the struggles in schematics and play-calling were a big reason Pittsburgh couldn’t find the end zone early. That context matters because it explains why Kenneth Gainwell credited Aaron Rodgers and not his OC for the 45-yard touchdown that shifted the game. After the win, Gainwell spoke to reporters and broke down how the play came together from the start.

“Man, Aaron (Rodgers) called a play and just told me to go out and run a go ball,” the running back said.

Looking back at the play, it was clearly a quarterback-driven decision. Rodgers adjusted things at or near the line of scrimmage after noticing Gainwell split wide against a linebacker. Detroit had leaned heavily on man coverage throughout the season, which made the matchup too tempting to ignore. Rodgers saw that and took the shot.

What followed, though, went beyond any pre-snap read. Gainwell was hauled down and still drew a pass interference call, yet somehow managed to locate the ball, secure the catch, and finish the play in the end zone. It was Pittsburgh’s first touchdown of the game and arguably the most important one.

All things considered, it’s hard to argue against the return on investment. The Steelers took a low-risk shot on Gainwell with a one-year deal, and it’s paying off in real moments. Now, the only question left is how strong this partnership and the season will finish.