When the media caught up with Omar Khan at the NFL Combine, the Pittsburgh Steelers got candid on several topics. Khan hinted towards the team's plans early in the NFL Draft, while noting that the team is still waiting on a decision from quarterback Aaron Rodgers. One player he was asked about was rookie running back Kaleb Johnson.
Unfortunately, Khan's comments were not encouraging. While the Steelers' GM praised struggling 2024 third-round pick Roman Wilson—expressing faith in the young wideout—his words regarding Johnson did sit well with fans.
Khan noted that what we witnessed on the field was indeed disappointing, but he expects him to 'turn the corner' in 2026, per 93.7 The Fan.
"Obviously what you guys saw on the field was disappointing. It's got to be better, but we see it on the practice field. We knew what he did in college, and I'd expect Kaleb to turn the corner."
Omar Khan didn't give Pittsburgh Steelers fans enough reason to be confident in RB Kaleb Johnson
These comments shouldn't come as a surprise. Johnson rarely saw the field as a rookie in 2025, and when the Iowa product was involved, he didn't do much with his opportunities—earning just 69 yards on 28 carries (2.5 yards per attempt). Khan's comments and tone on Johnson suggest he doesn't have high hopes for the second-year running back.
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Johnson with the hopes that he could be a workhorse back. At Iowa, Johnson routinely showed success against stacked boxes while breaking off explosive plays at an impressive rate.
Sadly, Johnson didn't gain the trust of Mike Tomlin and the coaching staff last season. Now he might be a worse fit in Mike McCarthy's offense.
With McCarthy, the Steelers are expected to run their offense heavily out of shotgun and '11' personnel. This includes running the ball out of shotgun. Meanwhile, Johnson is a wide zone runner with built-up speed. His skill set doesn't include the bust and elusiveness that most teams look for when running out of the shotgun formation.
If the Steelers re-sign free-agent running back Kenneth Gainwell, there will be even fewer opportunities for Johnson to carve out a significant role on the Steelers' offense in 2026.
A bad rookie season hardly makes Kaleb Johnson a busted draft pick. Unfortunately, a slow start to his NFL career feels even less encourging after Omar Khan's comments to the media at the NFL Combine.