The Pittsburgh Steelers watched long-time special teams coordinator Danny Smith depart following the exit of Head Coach Mike Tomlin. To replace him, the Steelers brought in Danny Crossman to take over the unit, and there is already a lot of optimism and excitement surrounding what he can bring to Pittsburgh. However, despite the potential improvements, the special teams group has not received the attention from fans that it perhaps deserves. That could change quickly if the latest updates coming out of training camp continue to be accurate.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Danny Crossman works during the Steelers’ voluntary veteran minicamp in Pittsburgh in 2026.
Every Steelers fan knows what Chris Boswell brings to the table. There are no concerns about whether he can continue being one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL. During the 2025 season, Boswell appeared in all 17 games, converting 27 of 32 field goal attempts (84.4%) and 42 of 43 extra-point attempts (97.7%) while finishing with 123 total points.
While those numbers dipped slightly compared to previous seasons, Boswell is human, and there is every expectation that he will bounce back with another All-Pro-caliber campaign in 2026. The bigger question mark surrounding Pittsburgh’s special teams unit is punter Cameron Johnston.
The Steelers signed Johnston to a three-year, $9 million contract in March 2024, but things quickly went in the wrong direction when he suffered a severe season-ending injury in the first game of the 2024 campaign. Now healthy and returning for the 2026 season, Johnston appears ready to prove why the Steelers invested in him. Early reports from training camp suggest he has been consistently booming punts and making an impact.
One of the latest updates came from Steelers insider Brooke Pryor, who shared an encouraging observation from the team’s special teams period at Saint Vincent College.
"Cam Johnston is absolutely booting it today in the first special teams period," Pryor said. "The first one went for 60+ and got a nice applause from the crowd at St. Vincent. Kaden Wetjen, Roman Wilson, Max Hurleman rotating at punt return."
If Johnston can return to form and Boswell continues his elite play, the Steelers could quietly have one of the strongest special teams units in the NFL heading into 2026. On Wednesday, Chris Adamski stated Johnston was also exceptional.
"Cam Johnston just booted a PERFECT 65-yard punt that kicked out of bounds inside the 2 in the proverbial coffin corner," Adamski said.
It's no shock to Steeler Nation, but Boswell, per usual has been balling according to Mark Kaboly.
"Chris Boswell absolutely killing it," Kaboly said. "Every one of his kicks would've been good from 60+ easily."
If Johnston can stay healthy and continue punting the way insiders are describing, the Steelers could have a major advantage that many teams overlook. Special teams often swing the outcome of close games, and with a reliable kicker like Boswell and a booming punter in Johnston, Pittsburgh has the foundation of a dangerous unit.
Steelers Have Fresh Opportunity To Change Games
The arrival of Crossman also brings a fresh opportunity for this group to elevate its performance. While special teams may not always get the spotlight, consistent field position, hidden yardage, and game-changing plays can be the difference between wins and losses throughout the season.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers punter Cameron Johnston practicing holding a kick for Chris Boswell as the team goes through a 2024 training camp practice at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers fans may not be talking enough about this unit right now, but that could change quickly. If these early training camp reports translate into regular season success, Pittsburgh’s special teams could become one of the biggest strengths of the team in 2026.
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