As the Pittsburgh Steelers prepare to take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their second preseason game this Saturday, all eyes are on rookie running back Kaleb Johnson.
The former Iowa standout is eager to bounce back after a disappointing NFL debut, and he's getting unwavering support from his coaching staff to do just that.
Johnson, selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, struggled in his preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He recorded just 20 rushing yards on eight carries, averaging 2.5 yards per attempt.
For a player with such a decorated college career—2,779 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns—it was a frustrating start.
“When I was at Iowa, I was always hard on myself because I always wanted to be perfect,” Johnson said during Thursday's media availability. “So when I messed up, I was hard on myself.”
That perfectionist mindset is part of what made Johnson such a force in college, but he’s learning quickly that the NFL requires a different kind of mental toughness. Luckily for him, he’s got the right coach in his corner.
Head coach Mike Tomlin wasted no time pulling Johnson aside for a word of encouragement. The message? Let it go and move forward.
The Pittsburgh Steelers need Kaleb Johnson to get out of his own head this preseason
“He told me in the NFL you can’t do that,” Johnson recalled. “Everyone’s going to mess up. Everyone is good. It’s big to get over it and keep moving.”
It’s a valuable lesson for a young player trying to carve out a role in a highly competitive backfield. The Steelers’ coaching staff continues to preach patience, effort, and resilience, and Johnson is responding with the right mindset.
He’s focused on improving each rep and showing he belongs.
The buzz around Johnson’s potential hasn’t died down after one underwhelming performance.
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If anything, it's increased, thanks to a flawless offseason by Pittsburgh’s front office and strong execution during the 2025 NFL Draft. The team has been in the spotlight all summer as a dark horse contender, eager to rebound from a disappointing 2024 campaign.
With new faces adjusting to new roles, the Steelers have built a foundation on youth, hunger, and grit—qualities Johnson embodies.
He’s a workhorse that needs to find his footing. Once he does, I expect him to explode.
Johnson’s college resume backs up those expectations, and the transition to the pro level is often a bumpy one—even for the most talented players. But Johnson’s response to adversity has shown maturity and a willingness to grow, two traits that bode well for his future in the NFL.
Saturday’s game against the Buccaneers offers him a chance to take a big step forward and validate the belief Tomlin and the coaching staff have in him.
For a team looking to regain its identity and toughness, Kaleb Johnson is poised to become an integral piece of the puzzle.
And with the season opener inching closer, there's no better time for the rookie to show what he’s truly capable of.