Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 third-round pick Kaleb Johnson aims to prove he’s not a bust after a completely disappointing campaign.
Coming into Year 2, the quarterback is taking positive lessons from his early season struggles.
“There are ups and downs in football,” Johnson said after minicamp last week, via the Pittsburgh Tribune Review .
For Johnson, Year 1 was filled with the biggest drop-offs—drops to be exact. The most memorable moment of Johnson’s rookie season came with his mental convulsion in Week 2 against Seattle, where he left a kickoff in the end zone to recover the Seahawks for a touchdown, which proved costly in the loss.
“I feel like it was a down moment for me,” Johnson said, “but everybody has downs. I feel like I’m getting over it and really just keeping my mind clear. Keeping my mind going and getting ready to go.”
Mike Tomlin didn’t give Johnson many chances to right the ship from there. The rookie was benched after a mandatory return after the fumble and did not play on special teams again. Johnson appeared in 10 games, rushing 28 times for 69 yards and catching one pass on two carries for nine yards. RB never took more than 11 offensive snaps in a game (twice in Weeks 4 and 6) and didn’t see the field after Week 15.
The 22-year-old is not focusing on the past but on what he can change for the future.
“I mean, right now, it’s just about me doing little things, getting better, just waiting for my time,” Johnson said. “That’s the main thing I’ve been thinking about. Just waiting for my time to come, and my time will definitely come to shine.”
The new Steelers brass under Mike McCarthy have spoken positively about Johnson, but the moves in the front office have highlighted that he still has a long way to go to be a productive contributor.
After losing Kenneth Gainwell, who took most of the snaps that could have gone to Johnson last season, in free agency, the Steelers inked Rico Dowdle to pair with Jaylen Warren. Dowdle brings similar physicality to what Johnson was expected to provide when they used the Day 2 pick on RB. The Steelers also drafted hybrid linebacker Eli Heidenreich in the seventh round and veteran Travis Homer, who brings pass-catching and returning skills. The arrival of fourth-round receiver Kaden Wetjen also ensures that Johnson likely won’t have a returning role again this season.
If Johnson isn’t going to earn significant special teams duty, he may have trouble being active on game days. Entering Year 2, the third-rounder might not be a cut candidate, but he needs an impressive camp and preseason to ensure he has a role in 2026.
“Adversity, just overcoming things like (what happened) early,” Johnson said. “And really being able to bounce back. Just keep your head straight and keep (looking) forward, because things like that happen.”
“I just have to take it on the chin and just keep going.”