There are plenty of new faces on the Pittsburgh Steelers for fans to get excited about. Those storied veterans like Aaron Rodgers, D.K. Metcalf, and Jalen Ramsey are sure to become fan favorites -- so long as they live up to expectations and get this franchise a playoff victory.
But the Steelers have always built through the draft, and that's where Steelers fans often find their favorite players. Fans in Pittsburgh always seem to be quicker to gravitate towards guys who have an opportunity to carve out their NFL legacy in Pittsburgh from the jump. Naturally, playmakers who keep the chains moving on offense are the players who make the biggest impression.
In recent seasons, that space has been occupied by guys like Najee Harris and George Pickens. While both players were more than polarizing, one for his play on the field, the other for his attitude off of it, they're both gone from the roster, leaving a vacancy for Steelers fans' next favorite young star in the making.
Kaleb Johnson looks like the next star Pittsburgh Steelers fans will fall in love with
There's no clearer candidate than Kaleb Johnson at running back to take on the mantle. The third-round pick out of Iowa already looks at home in a Steelers uniform before entering his first training camp, and expectations for him are through the roof to achieve the success that eluded Harris before him.
While there are some similarities in Harris and Johnson's games, the Iowa product has had more success with breaking open explosive plays using both his power and speed. Johnson had 32 plays that gained 20 yards or more last year for the Hawkeyes. The more often his No. 20 is seen scorching across the turf in Acrisure Stadium, the more we'll see his jersey in the stands.
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Of course, it might be a bit slower start for Johnson than it was for Harris because of the depth chart. Jaylen Warren, a budding fan favorite in his own right, will likely be the lead back early in the season. He's capable of explosive plays, too, and his tenacity has been apparent since joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2022, so he won't give up his reps without a fight.
Still, there's no denying that there's an aura of star power waiting to be exposed with Johnson toting the rock for years to come.