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.
The Pittsburgh Steelers did the improbable on Sunday afternoon in Week 9 of the 2025 NFL regular season when the defense stepped up and stopped the highly efficient Indianapolis Colts. The Steelers offense, balanced and complementary, answered by putting the ball into the end zone. Running back Jaylen Warren scored twice, grinding out two hard-earned rushing touchdowns.
In the second quarter, during the Steelers’ first offensive series of that period, quarterback Aaron Rodgers started at the PIT 44 thanks to a T.J. Watt strip-sack against Colts QB Daniel Jones and recovery. On the first play, Rodgers threw a short pass to Kenneth Gainwell, who was stopped for a one-yard loss but was face-masked. The penalty against the Colts gave the Steelers offense 15 yards and a replay of first down.
A series of short passes, including a nine-yard throw over the middle to Calvin Austin, along with a successful direct snap to Connor Heyward for a new set of downs on 4th and 1 at the IND 20, led to a red zone standoff that ended when, on 3rd and goal, Warren took the handoff and hit the gap at left guard to force his way into the end zone for the touchdown that gave the Steelers their first points of the game.
.@Nunless2 punches it in for 6️⃣!
📺 #INDvsPIT on @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/GJZyrZXYNO
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 2, 2025
In the fourth quarter, Warren came through again.
Following a Payton Wilson tip block of a Daniel Jones pass that was recovered by rookie Jack Sawyer for an interception, the Pittsburgh offense got the ball back at the PIT 44.
The Steelers sent rookie running back Kaleb Johnson into the game, and he carried the ball 4 yards on 1st and 10. Rodgers then threw a short pass to tight end Darnell Washington for an 11-yard gain. Johnson was targeted on a short pass that went for 9 yards before he was pushed out of bounds, and then Rodgers hit Austin for an 18-yard pass and catch.
Three plays later, on 2nd and goal at the IND 2, Rodgers handed the ball off to Warren, who carried it around the left end of the pile and into the end zone to give the Steelers a 24-7 lead after another successful Chris Boswell PAT.
ALL ABOARD THE JAY TRAIN 🚂
📺 #INDvsPIT on @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/z1NpTKiTkw
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) November 2, 2025
Warren finished the game with 16 carries for 31 yards and 2 catches. This game was Warren’s first career game with multiple rushing touchdowns.
Check back each week as we continue spotlighting the plays that defined the Steelers’ 2025 season — one moment at a time.