Oklahoma State HC Mike Gundy on Steelers RB Jaylen Warren: 'He's lighting it up'

Mike Gundy is busy prepping his Oklahoma State team for Saturday’s Big 12 title game. But that didn’t stop him from digging up some old film of new Steelers star Jaylen Warren.

His son had sent him a video of Warren dashing for a 74-yard touchdown against the Browns last month in Cleveland. So Gundy, like the good coach he is, pulled up some data of the running back who starred for the Cowboys in 2021.

“I pulled up the game, and he had 12 carries for like 149 yards, and he averaged like 14 yards a carry,” Gundy told ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. “He’s lighting it up.

“The reason he’s successful is because he’s very humble. He’s just very thankful for what he has. … That gives him a chance.”

The Steelers got a steal in 2022 when they signed Warren as an undrafted free agent. All 32 teams passed on Warren in the draft following a senior year in which he gained 1,216 yards and scored 11 touchdowns.

And now, he’s doing much the same in Pittsburgh. The Steelers use Najee Harris, their first-round pick in 2021, with Warren as a powerful tailback tandem. These two backs are part of the reason why the offense seems to be steadying as the NFL season heads into the final stretch.

Steelers running game features one-two punch of Harris, Warren

As ESPN noted, the Steelers are 5-0 the last two seasons when Warren’s carries are in double digits. The compact, 5-foot-8, 225-pounder responded last month with outings of 101 rushing yards against the Packers and 129 against the Browns.

Warren has rushed for 542 yards, which ranks second on the team to Harris’ 598. However, you can say Warren is far more efficient with his runs. After all, he’s 50 carries behind Harris, but still within 56 yards. Warren also is nasty in pass protection. In a game against the Raiders, he threw the key block against Maxx Crosby, which allowed the Kenny Pickett enough time to throw a long touchdown pass.

“His blitz pickup has always been exciting and exceptional,” coach Mike Tomlin said after the game.

Last week, Kyle Brandt, a co-host of Good Morning Football, awarded Warren with his Angry Run Award. In fact, Brandt said Warren received two nominations for the same game. Like Gundy, Brandt applauded Warren’s 74-yarder. Brandt introduced the clip, yelling “my favorite player in the NFL was spinning and that’s just the appetizer.” He likened the downed Browns tacklers to when Stone Cold Steve Austin “was counting his beers in the ring.”

Brandt also called Warren “the hardest runner in the NFL this year.”

“I don’t care whether he was drafted or not drafted, that dude runs hard,” Brandt said of the emerging Steelers star. “Jaylen Warren putting more holes than the Warren Commission. There’s all kinds of mystery about how to tackle this guy and I love it.”

But Gundy was correct in calling Warren humble.

“I don’t usually expect anything or envision anything,” Warren told reporters. “I kind of just play. (And) I put my best foot forward and whatever happens, happens.”