PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh agreed with running back Rico Dowdle on a $12.25 million, two-year deal in what will be a reunion with new Steelers coach Mike McCarthy.

They were together in Dallas, where Dowdle became the first undrafted Cowboys running back to rush for 1,000 yards in McCarthy’s final season in 2024.

Dowdle, who played collegiately at South Carolina, signed with Carolina last year and followed a 206-yard outing against Miami with 183 yards rushing and a 36-yard touchdown catch against the Cowboys. Dowdle finished the season with 1,076 yards.

The Steelers are waiting on what would be a much more significant reunion for McCarthy. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers hasn’t said whether he plans to return for a 22nd season, and second in Pittsburgh. The 42-year-old was with McCarthy for 12-plus seasons in Green Bay, and they won a Super Bowl during the 2010 season.

The Steelers also reunited with punter Cameron Johnston, announcing a one-year contract with the veteran from Australia.

Johnson, 34, played for the Steelers for about 18 months from March 2024 until the end of this past year’s training camp. He had signed a three-year, $9 million contract to join the team but suffered a season-ending knee injury in his regular-season debut.

Corliss Waitman filled in for Johnston the remainder of that 2024 season and then beat him out during a preseason competition that summer. Waitman is a currently a restricted free agent, and to hold his rights the Steelers must make a qualifying offer by 4 p.m. today.

Johnston, who is entering his 10th NFL season, punted in four regular-season games last season — for the Bills and the Giants. Johnston suffered a foot injury with the Bills.

Before his injury troubles, Johnston had a reputation as one of the NFL’s better punters over three seasons each with the Philadelphia Eagles and Houston Texans.

While playing for the Texas in 2023, Johnston was tied for sixth in the NFL in net punting average (43.7 yards), his 45.5% rate of punts inside the opponents’ 20 yard-line was sixth-best in the NFL and his 4.5% rate of touchbacks ranked ninth.

Steelers’ moves

Traded for

WR Michael Pittman Jr. 3 years, $59M

Signed

CB Jamel Dean 3 years, $36.5M

RB Rico Dowdle 2 years, $12.25M

P Cam Johnston 1 year

Retained

CB Asante Samuel Jr. 1 year, $4M

LB Cole Holcomb 2 years, $5M

DL Esezi Otomewo 1 year

Lost

OG Isaac Seumalo Cardinals

RB Kenneth Gainwell Buccaneers

CB James Pierre Vikings