Steelers' Mike McCarthy Is Absolutely Changing Everything For Kaleb Johnson In Now Or Never Season

With the Pittsburgh Steelers' decision to add veteran running back Rico Dowdle to the roster, it naturally sparked speculation about the future of young running back Kaleb Johnson. Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had been high on Johnson when the team selected him in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, believing he had the talent to become a key contributor.

Unfortunately for both Johnson and the Steelers, his rookie season did not go according to plan. Johnson boldly predicted he would rush for over 1,000 yards as a rookie, but he never came close after struggling to earn consistent opportunities. Much of that stemmed from a costly Week 2 muffed kickoff that seemed to land him in Tomlin’s doghouse. As the season progressed, Johnson found it increasingly difficult to carve out a role in the backfield.

Now with Mike McCarthy taking over as head coach, there are even more questions surrounding Johnson’s future in Pittsburgh. McCarthy was not the one who drafted him, and the addition of Dowdle, who has an established history with the new head coach, only complicates Johnson’s path to playing time. Jaylen Warren is also expected to handle a significant workload, leaving very few snaps available for Johnson unless he forces the coaching staff’s hand. Steelers insider Gerry Dulac addressed Johnson’s outlook in his latest article for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Tuesday.

"Barring injuries, I don’t see where second-year running back Kaleb Johnson is going to fit in this offense after the Steelers signed Dowdle," Dulac said. "And I doubt Johnson will be given back his former role as a kick returner with the addition of Kaden Wetjen in this 2026 NFL Draft."

Obviously, the fact that McCarthy did not draft Johnson makes his future even more uncertain. However, even though he was not the one who selected him, McCarthy has publicly expressed support for Johnson, stating that he wants to give him a clean slate. 

Dulac continued to share that Johnson will still have an opportunity to prove himself moving forward.

"So unless he shows in the preseason he merits more playing time, Johnson just might be relegated to another season of spot play," Dulac said. "That being said, I’m not ready to give up on him. When you watch him in practice, you see the burst and pop that made him a third-round pick in 2025. But the Steelers need to see it in a game."

Still, that opportunity may be easier said than done given the current depth chart and the Steelers’ offseason additions. Johnson will likely need to make the most of limited touches in both the preseason and early regular season to shift the conversation around his role.

Steelers Not Out On Kaleb Johnson Yet

For now, his future in Pittsburgh is far from decided. The talent that made him a third-round pick is still there, but it will take consistent production on the field to turn potential into trust. If Johnson cannot capitalize on his chances, he risks being pushed further down the depth chart in an offense that is quickly taking shape without him at the center of it.

McCarthy is not out on Johnson, at least not yet. Still, it will not be an easy path for him moving forward. If Johnson wants to earn a consistent role, he will likely need to prove himself as a reliable special teams contributor or show he can be trusted as a pass catcher and blocker out of the backfield. Without that versatility, opportunities could remain limited in a crowded and competitive backfield.

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