Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have a familiar, yet largely unknown, face back in their tailback room next season. As general manager Omar Khan helps carry out the team’s head coaching search, he signed 13 players to reserves/futures contracts on Wednesday, including Lew Nichols.
Nichols has yet to get his first NFL carry, but he’s proven to be a sturdy rusher. The Central Michigan product, a Detroit native, led the nation with 1,848 yards on the ground in 2021. His 341 carries were also tops in the country. He earned the Mid-American Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year award for his efforts.
During his Chippewas career, Nichols rushed for 3,061 yards and 26 touchdowns on 614 carries. He added 71 receptions for 575 yards and three scores.
The Green Bay Packers drafted Nichols in the seventh round in 2023. He had a few stints on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad before landing with the Steelers last offseason. Along with fellow tailback Trey Sermon, Nichols was elevated from Pittsburgh’s practice squad ahead of the team’s Week 9 matchup with the Indianapolis Colts. Nichols made a tackle in that matchup.
The Steelers will have to make another decision in the backfield this offseason, as team MVP Kenneth Gainwell is due for a new contract. Pittsburgh also selected Iowa product Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but he was only given 28 carries as a rookie.
The Steelers also have Jaylen Warren, who had 958 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 211 carries this season. All were team-highs.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Sign Highly-Productive Tailback to 2026 Contract
