The NFL preseason is more than just warm-up games; it’s a proving ground—a stage where young players get to display growth, resilience, and the grit it takes to succeed at the next level. For Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson, Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was exactly that: proof that setbacks don’t define you, but how you respond does.
Since being selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Johnson has carried the weight of great expectations.
Pittsburgh fans know the importance of a reliable backfield presence, and Johnson, a former Iowa All-American, arrived with a reputation as a workhorse. The hype was real from the moment he stepped into the building, but his debut in Week 1 left the fan base restless.
He looked hesitant, searching for rhythm, and the numbers reflected it. For a city that bleeds black and gold, patience doesn’t always come easily.
Saturday night was different. Against Tampa Bay, Johnson looked like the running back we all believed he could be.
With 11 carries for 50 yards, the rookie displayed the confidence and physicality that made him a top draft choice. He ran with purpose—lowering his shoulder into defenders, finishing runs with authority, and trusting the big men up front to pave the way.
It wasn’t just the stat line that stood out. It was the energy, the decisiveness, and the grit. Johnson looked like he belonged.
After the game, Johnson’s honesty was refreshing.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a future star in rookie RB Kaleb Johnson
“Really, the first game I was kind of timid,” he admitted after the game, via The Athletic's Mike DeFabo.
That’s the kind of transparency you appreciate from a rookie—someone who knows what didn’t work and is already adjusting. He credited “reading the flow” of his linemen and communicating more during practice throughout the week as the key to his rebound.
That willingness to learn and adapt says as much about his character as his physical talent.
The Steelers may have dropped the contest 17-14, but in the preseason, the scoreboard is secondary. What matters is development, and Johnson delivered exactly that.
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Johnson's bounce-back performance not only reassured fans but also reminded us that growth takes time. Sometimes it takes that first hit of adversity before a player locks in and shows what they’re capable of.
I was encouraged Saturday.
Watching Johnson attack the line of scrimmage with confidence brought a sense of relief. It reminded me why the Steelers drafted him so high—he’s built for this city.
He’s focused, motivated, and more importantly, mature enough to handle the ups and downs of being a professional athlete. That kind of mindset can carry a young back a long way in this league.
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a star in the making, and his story is just beginning. If Week 1 of the preseason was the stumble, Week 2 was the response. And if Johnson continues to grow the way he did against Tampa, Pittsburgh may have found its next great workhorse.