Rico Dowdle sends clear warning to Panthers after signing with Steelers

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Rico Dowdle sends clear warning to Panthers after signing with Steelers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

New Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle won’t have to wait long to play against his former franchise, as the Steelers are slated to play against the Carolina Panthers in 2026.

Whenever that game ends up being, Dowdle will be ready for it.

“It’s definitely circled,” Dowdle said of Pittsburgh’s matchup with Carolina. “It’s definitely circled, for sure.”

Dowdle played just a single season with the Panthers after spending the first four seasons of his career with the Dallas Cowboys, but he clearly feels some type of way about Carolina allowing him to walk in free agency after his productive 2025 campaign.

In 17 games for the Panthers last season, Dowdle rushed for 1,076 yards and six touchdowns. He also had 39 receptions for 297 yards and another score.

2026 will be the second straight season that features a revenge game opportunity for Dowdle. He tallied a career-high 239 scrimmage yards and a touchdown against Dallas as a member of the Panthers last season. The Panthers will have to hope that Dowdle isn’t as successful against them as he was against Dallas.

When it comes to why Dowdle chose to sign with the Steelers, new head coach Mike McCarthy is a big part of the reason why. Dowdle and McCarthy formed a solid relationship while McCarthy served as the Cowboys head coach.

”When I came out of (the University of) South Carolina, Coach McCarthy and the Cowboys gave me my first opportunity in the NFL,” Dowdle said. ”I built that relationship with him. I was there with him in Dallas for, what, five years? So, yeah, just been building that relationship with him and it definitely played a major role into my decision to come here to Pittsburgh.”

Dowdle will have a new look on the field in Pittsburgh, as he announced that he will be wearing No. 13 for the Steelers. He wore No. 5 in Carolina and Nos. 24 and 34 in Dallas.

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