After the Pittsburgh Steelers won the AFC North title in 2025, the excitement was quickly squashed by yet another pathetic performance in the playoffs. Many players were brought in last offseason to make one last big run at a Super Bowl, and it did not work out. Pittsburgh is still stuck in limbo as they look for any type of quarterback help to finally get them over the playoff win hump and get out of this purgatory.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan (left) and Team President & Owner Art Rooney II (right) on the field at a team practice while having a discussion.
While making an appearance on Randy Baumann and the DVE Morning Show, insider Gerry Dulac was asked about an odd roster move that the Steelers made in 2026, and it all stems from one man's struggles from the previous season.
"They really liked [Cameron] Johnston when they signed him," Dulac said. "And the one thing about Corliss Waitman -- and I like Corliss Waitman -- he doesn't, for the most part, deliver in the games. To me, he's a practice player, and I say that because when you watch him in training camp, or you watch him in practice, you hear the thump. You see the ball, the distance he can punt the ball, and it doesn't translate into games... His field-flipping punts just aren't there."
After taking over for Cameron Johnston in the 2024 season after he suffered a major knee injury, Corliss Waitman battled the veteran punter in training camp in 2025. He won the job due to his extremely impressive hang time on those punts, making the Steelers cut Johnston and have him find a job elsewhere. Having those field-flipping punts with minimal return would be amazing for a team struggling with offense like Pittsburgh.
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Former Pittsburgh Steelers punter Corliss Waitman (3) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
That did not work out as the Steelers hoped. He became very erratic like Pressley Harvin III previously was for Pittsburgh. His 45.5 average yards per punt looks nice, but there was no consistency to that number. He had plenty of deep, booming punts, but he also had way too many shanks that set the opponent up with great field position. They tried to avoid another Harvin situation only to get it right back.
After the 2025 season, the Steelers opted to not place a tender on Waitman and allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent. He later signed with the San Francisco 49ers, and the Steelers brought back Johnston to compete in training camp. He has a history of being consistent, so Pittsburgh is willing to lose a couple yards per punt if that likely means they get less shanks.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers punter Cameron Johnston (5) practicing holding a kick for kicker Chris Boswell (9) during training camp in 2024 in Latrobe, PA.
The biggest problem with Johnston is his recent injury concerns. There was the aforementioned knee issue that ended his season in Week 1 of 2024 against the Atlanta Falcons, although that was not his fault. After signing with the Buffalo Bills in 2025, he had another leg injury that ended his tenure there too. He then punted one game for the New York Giants a few months later, and now he's back in the Steel City, hoping for a healthy season where he can prove himself again.
Steelers Need Johnston's Style For Effective Punting Game
The Steelers always play some sort of poor-weather game each season late in the year, since they are a part of a dome-less AFC North division. With punters like Waitman and Harvin who have big drops before kicking it, the weather can affect it just enough to move the ball to the side of a foot, causing a shank. Johnston has almost no drop, which means the weather can't affect him nearly as much. This is likely one reason why he's more consistent.
What do you think about the Steelers bringing back Johnston due to their disappointment in Waitman's inconsistent punting from week to week? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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