Steelers' Kaleb Johnson Gets Great News After Disastrous Rookie Season

The Pittsburgh Steelers' running game was hit or miss in 2025. The squad ranked 25th in rushing yards and middle of the pack with 4.3 yards per carry. The offense replaced a lot of running situations with dump-offs, at times. However, Pittsburgh didn't establish a dominant run game. Starter Jaylen Warren had some explosive plays, including a pair of long touchdowns against the Detroit Lions, but the Steelers never went in and just pounded the rock. Reasons for this could come from a poor offensive scheme and a young offensive line. However, this season, new head coach Mike McCarthy has made it clear that he wants the run game to improve, even within his West Coast offense. 

To remedy the Steelers' rushing attack, the front office added veteran back Rico Dowdle to complement what the Steelers already have in Warren. The two are very similar, but Dowdle is a bit bigger, which could help in earlier downs. The tandem could prove to be very effective, as both are strong, elusive, and can make defenders miss. Along with those two backs, who seemingly will be splitting snaps, is the third-string running back, Kaleb Johnson. 

Johnson was a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh. He has yet to see a significant role, especially after he was benched after a kickoff return blunder early in the season. With a new coaching staff heading into year two, there has been some uncertainty about whether or not he would even make the team. But no one would benefit from a coaching change more than Johnson. Steelers insider Mark Kaboly talked about Johnson's situation on an episode of Kaboly and Mack, where he explained how the former Hawkeye will have a roster spot. 

"Maybe he feels more comfortable in year two. I'm not talking about cutting the guy. People are saying to get rid of him. You don't know anything about him. You know zero about him, other than he was a high-level college producer. He's not cuttable," Kaboly said. 

Johnson only registered 28 rush attempts in his rookie campaign. With those carries, he posted 69 yards and 2.5 yards per carry. The stats prove that he wasn't given much of an opportunity, and most of these carries came late in games. While he won't be a premier back by any means, he's only a second-year player who had a historic 2024 season at the University of Iowa. 

During his junior year at Iowa, Johnson ran for 1,537 yards and scored 23 total touchdowns, leading to him being named an All-American. While he would never get the same 240 carries he got that season with Pittsburgh, he could be an effective depth option. There's no question the organization saw something in him; granted, he was drafted in the third round. If Warren or Dowdle were to go down, he would need to step up. There's not much competition behind him, so he'll be the Steelers' backup option in case their 1A or 1B gets hurt. 

The Steelers' Rushing Attack Has A Good Chance To Improve In 2026

As mentioned previously, the Black and Gold had a below-average running game in 2025. The offense as a whole sputtered throughout the season, but under McCarthy, it has a pretty good chance at making the jump. Not only has the personnel changed, but the young offensive line will have another season to mesh. Pittsburgh can't be shy when it comes to running the ball consistently against opposing defenses. They have the backs to do it. 

The AFC North is tough, and the team will need to establish itself with a capable rushing attack. They have the talent to do it, and with a new scheme, numbers should improve. 

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