It's far too early to make any real judgments on the Pittsburgh Steelers' 2025 draft class, but one player in particular had a rookie season to forget. Third-round running back Kaleb Johnson started his 2025 season as the third-string RB and one of the Steelers' kick returners, which I imagine isn't what he or any fans of his were expecting. By the end of the season, he wasn't even active on gamedays.
Part of his lack of snaps was the emergence of Kenneth Gainwell, who won team MVP despite signing for barely more than the league minimum. Gainwell's impact on the passing game made it hard to take him off the field, unless it was Jaylen Warren, of course. That meant very few snaps were available for Johnson, and the ones he did get were largely ineffective.
Despite the disastrous nature of his first season in the NFL, Johnson looks to be taking everything in stride heading into year two. While speaking with the media during mandatory minicamp, Johnson had this to say about his approach this offseason.
“I mean, right now, it’s just all about me doing little things, getting better, just waiting on my time to come. That’s my main thing that’s been on my mind. Just waiting on my time to come, and my time will come to shine for sure.”
Kaleb Johnson has the right attitude to be successful in 2026, but will the Pittsburgh Steelers give him a chance?
Johnson's comments to the media prove that he has the right mentality to turn his NFL career around, but will it be in Pittsburgh? That is the question that is running through the minds of fans, and potentially Johnson himself, as the 2026 offseason marches on.
As I mentioned previously, Gainwell's breakout season in 2025 is what led to the Iowa product's minimal usage as a rookie. Even with Gainwell now in Tampa Bay as the Buccaneers' No. 2 back, the Steelers didn't make his path to playing time any easier this offseason, as they added Rico Dowdle to the RB room in free agency.
Dowdle is coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, and Warren did nothing last season to make the Steelers want to give him fewer touches. Those two backs will handle the lion's share of the workload this season, leaving Johnson to fight for the few remaining touches left behind.
It's entirely possible that, barring an injury to Dowdle or Warren, Johnson receives a similar number of chances to touch the ball this season as he did as a rookie. Even if he makes better use of those opportunities, how will he truly prove that he can be a starting caliber player if he can never get into a rhythm?
It's great to see him having a positive attitude, but the reality is that Johnson's chances of playing a big role for the Steelers in 2026 may be slim to none.
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