Steel City Underground presents our 2025 Plays of the Year series: a weekly rewind through the biggest moments, breakout performances, and unforgettable highlights from last season’s Pittsburgh Steelers campaign.

Pittsburgh Steelers fans had been up early on Sunday morning to make sure they didn’t miss out on the historic international matchup against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland. The game kicked off at 9:30 a.m. Eastern while more than 74,000 NFL fans filled the stands at Croke Park. Although a late scratch of Jaylen Warren due to injury had been worrisome, the Steelers set Kenneth Gainwell loose, and he delivered two big rushing touchdowns.

Embed from Getty Images

The Steelers won the coin toss and received the ball first in the opening minutes of the NFL’s first regular season game at Croke Park. The offense came out flat and went 3-and-out before Corliss Waitman trotted onto the field to punt.

Minutes later, down 3-0 due to a Vikings field goal, Aaron Rodgers and company went back to work. 9 plays and 71 yards later, the Steelers put the football into the end zone for the first time.

Passes to D.K. Metcalf of 14, 17, and 11 yards helped move the Steelers down the gridiron. On 1st & Goal at the MIN 7, Rodgers threw a short pass left to Gainwell, but he was brought down a yard short of the goalline. Rodgers handed the ball off and let Gainwell burst behind good blocking to slam into the end zone.

.@KENNETHGAINWEL runs it in for 6️⃣!

Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/szceXBkp2Z pic.twitter.com/rBOKD6oWiM

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 28, 2025

It wouldn’t be the last time Gainwell got to dance. Ahead 14-6 in the third quarter, the Steelers offense performed a Gainwell showcase drive.

The Steelers started at the 5:15 mark with a short pass from Rodgers to tight end Darnell Washington for an 8-yard gain. Gainwell then carried the ball around the left end for 7 yards and earned a new set of downs with a 6-yard follow up rush. After Spencer Anderson reported in as eligible, adding size to the offensive line with extra blocking help, Gainwell ripped a 10-yard run off the left tackle.

In the “jumbo package” again, on 2nd & 4 at the MIN 14, Gainwell hit the left tackle gap again and fell forward into the end zone for his second rushing touchdown. The successful PAT by Chris Boswell gave Pittsburgh a 21-6 lead.

That’s ✌️ for @KENNETHGAINWEL so far today

Stream on NFL+: https://t.co/szceXBjRdr pic.twitter.com/pUGbgAOKhK

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 28, 2025

In our pregame preview, we talked about how getting the run game going could temper the Vikings defensive pressure, and Gainwell proved that to be the case. Gainwell earned 99 rushing yards on 19 carries in the game and was the major contributor to the 131 total rushing yards earned by the Steelers. He added 35 yards on 6 receptions.

With Pittsburgh finding a groove in their rushing scheme, the Steelers offense looked the most balanced it had all season – just in time for a 24-21 victory on the international stage.

ANOTHER ONE FOR KG! pic.twitter.com/6JElTDl7rv

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) September 28, 2025

Check back each week as we continue spotlighting the plays that defined the Steelers’ 2025 season — one moment at a time.