Steelers Hear Staggering Confidence From Kaleb Johnson After Rough Rookie Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers are now deep into training camp with the team's first preseason game right around the corner. It has been interesting to see how team has shaped up so far, and fans will have a better idea of what the unit might look like when Pittsburgh takes the field for its first exhibition contest against the Green Bay Packers. The fan base is going to be paying close attention to the younger guys on the roster, which includes the 10-man draft class from 2026, but also the development of some guys with more experience. A player like running back Kaleb Johnson is someone fans are hoping to see more of.

To say that Johnson's rookie season in 2025 was disappointing would be a major understatement. He barely saw the field, and there were several instances where he was a healthy scratch on game day. The downfall for Johnson began with a poor preseason, and it continued when he failed to cover the ball on a kick return when it landed in the end zone. 

This led to what was a free touchdown for the Seattle Seahawks, and it put the game out of reach as the Steelers ended up losing. After a mishap like that, it seemed difficult for the coaches to find a reason to put him back on the field, but now he will get a fresh start with a new coaching staff.

Johnson spoke to the media following a recent training camp practice, and he was speaking about his current role on the team. He is obviously fighting for snaps at running back, but is also embracing a special teams role. He doesn't seem to be lacking confidence as he stated he would return a kick for a touchdown if he were given a chance to be a returner in 2026.

"If they put me back there and I get that kickoff return, I’m taking it to the house," Johnson said.

It would be easy to let the mistake that happened in 2025 eat at himself and ruin his career, but he seems like he is in a good headspace to bounce back for this second season. He didn't necessarily look good when he was returning kicks for the Steelers at the start of the 2025 season, but he thinks he can take one the distance.

Johnson's roster spot isn't safe, so carving out a role on special teams is a necessity. He currently slots in as the third running back on the depth chart, and he is fighting to stay there. Johnson is not going to surpass Jaylen Warren or Rico Dowdle in the pecking order at the position, but he could drop past third on the depth chart if things do not go well in the preseason.

Fans want to see Johnson succeed. He was a third-round pick in 2025 and the city was excited when the selection was made. Now his future is up in the air, but he seems to be optimistic about getting his career back on track.

Steelers' Kaleb Johnson Will Benefit From New Coaching Staff

Johnson seemed to fall out of favor with the last coaching staff after his error on special teams, so a fresh start under the new regime is great for him. He still won't have a ton of opportunities on the offensive side of the ball, but he can prove himself in the third phase of the game. 

He could also see opportunity if either Warren or Dowdle go down with an injury, but neither of those backs are known to miss a ton of time as Dowdle played 17 games in 2025 and Warren played in 16. Johnson needs to find a way to make a splash, and the best way to do that is stringing together some good preseason performances.

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