This paper presents an adaptive algorithm for unbiased estimation of autoregressive Rayleigh flat fading parameters in OFDM systems. To this end, a variable leaky steepest descent algorithm is proposed. The authors use a variable leak parameter in the algorithm to remove the noise induced bias from the autoregressive estimates. Theoretical performance analyses of the proposed method are conducted. Moreover, computer simulations are presented to evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithm and to compare it with other existing methods. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.