Steelers Rookie Kaleb Johnson Plans On Taking Jaylen Warren's RB1 Spot Quickly

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a big decision to part ways with the running back they drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, Najee Harris. During his four seasons with the Steelers, Harris was reliable and above average, though he never truly turned into the star running back Pittsburgh fans had hoped he would be. He came close by rushing for over 1,000 yards in every season, but the Steelers were ready to move on from Harris after the 2024 campaign.

Now, Jaylen Warren and rookie Kaleb Johnson will lead the way in the backfield, with Kenneth Gainwell offering his services as a versatile option. Johnson is a rookie but already showing a lot of confidence heading into the 2025 season. His energy and boldness have fans and analysts intrigued about what he can bring to the offense.

During training camp on Friday night, Johnson was asked, via @SCRecaps on X, if people should bet the over on his rushing yards, currently set at 800.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook. While he did not give a specific number, Johnson jokingly said he would be going over 1,000 yards rushing as a rookie, a bold prediction that comes with a tempting payout at +225 for bettors willing to take the risk.

"We will have to see bro," Johnson said. "More than [1,000 yards]."

The fan asked Johnson how many rushing yards he expected this season. At first, Johnson didn’t want to give a specific number, but the fan kept pressing. In the video, the fan directly asked if 1,000 yards was a good bet. Johnson laughed, showing his confidence immediately. It was clear from his reaction that he believes Vegas set the betting line far too low by about 200 yards. Clearly Johnson believes he's going to take Warren's job quickly if he's going to get over 1,000 yards. 

That’s exactly the kind of confidence Steelers fans saw in the video, and it didn’t go unnoticed. At first, Johnson hesitated to make any bold predictions, showing a humble side, but when a number was put in front of him, he knew he had to rise to the challenge. 

He’s an incredibly competitive player who, during his time at Iowa, made some impressive plays even when facing stacked and loaded boxes. Johnson is sure to draw plenty of attention in the NFL, but this third-round pick is confident his rookie season will be productive and full of hard work.

Steelers' Running Back Room Looks Very Different Heading Into The 2025 Season

The Steelers let Harris walk in free agency and made it clear they wanted to continue working with Warren. The former undrafted free agent has continued to impress, so much so that he is the back Pittsburgh decided to keep from the 2024 season. Warren is expected to be a great pass-catching back and as explosive as ever. Though he struggled to stay healthy and had a bit of a down year compared to what many had hoped for in the 2024 season.

Warren has set the bar high and will now be called upon quite a bit. However, Vegas still thinks Johnson will be the lead back, which is reflected in the fact they gave Johnson a rushing yards line almost 300 yards higher. It will be interesting to see when and if Johnson takes over the majority of the carries, but he is super confident. The Steelers are very excited about what they have seen from Johnson so far in camp.

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