The Pittsburgh Steelers followed up their Week 1 win with a disappointing Week 2 loss at home against the Seattle Seahawks. The Steelers fell 31-17 in a game that felt difficult from the start. Many assumed the Steelers would win the matchup as they entered as big-time favorites. For the Steelers fans, that unfortunately didn't transpire.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers Running Backs Coach Eddie Faulkner coaching up Kaleb Johnson during training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The Seahawks, however, were unfazed by the tough road trip and racked up 395 yards of total offense. One of the game’s biggest turning points came when Steelers rookie Kaleb Johnson muffed a kick return, allowing Seattle to recover the football for an easy touchdown. After the game, Johnson addressed the Pittsburgh media about the costly mistake, via a clip posted on social media by Chris Adamski.
Steelers rookie Kaleb Johnson explains his gaffe on the kickoff return pic.twitter.com/JC86pspxJY
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) September 14, 2025
Johnson’s fumble wasn’t the only issue, but it immediately swung momentum in Seattle’s favor. What had been a close contest quickly shifted into a two-score deficit, and the Steelers never fully recovered.
The special teams error put extra pressure on Pittsburgh’s offense, which already struggled to establish consistency throughout the game. Instead of building on their early-season momentum, the Steelers found themselves chasing from behind against a Seahawks team that took full advantage of their opportunities.
"I just gotta get better every day so that is all I have to say about that," Johnson told the Pittsburgh media after his big error on Sunday. "I just gotta go in there every day and work my hardest even more. This will put a chip on my shoulder."
Beyond the special teams breakdown, Pittsburgh had problems on both sides of the ball. The offense stalled at key moments and finished with just 17 points, while the defense had trouble slowing down Seattle’s balanced attack.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin roams the practice field as his team works out during a 2025 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Missed tackles, blown assignments, and a lack of execution allowed the Seahawks to control the tempo. Head Coach Mike Tomlin will now be tasked with addressing these issues quickly as the Steelers prepare for a pivotal Week 3 contest against the New England Patriots.
Kaleb Johnson doesn’t know the f—king rule. Just runs off the field. Touchdown Seahawks. I’d bench him until Halloween. pic.twitter.com/oYs7hW7kNt
— Andrew Fillipponi (@ThePoniExpress) September 14, 2025
As for the rookie, Johnson knows no excuse will get him out of this mistake. He knows he has to be better, and claims he will be.
"If I was sure or wasn’t sure, it doesn’t matter," Johnson said. "I still gotta do what I gotta do and go in there and execute the way it needs to be executed… I just gotta move on. It’s part of football and part of life… Try to move on with it… Don’t think about it and keep it moving. We have a long season."
Steelers' Kaleb Johnson Looking To Erase Mistake In Near Future
After the game, many reporters repeatedly asked Johnson about the costly mistake. As a rookie, the transition into the NFL is never easy, and moments like these can either make or break a young player.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers' running back Kaleb Johnson running with the football during training camp in Latrobe, PA.
For Johnson, he appears to have the right mindset about the unfortunate situation and plans to work hard with a chip on his shoulder to put the error behind him. The Steelers didn’t lose this game solely because of the special teams miscue, but it certainly played a part in the outcome.
What did you think about the Steelers' Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.
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