Steelers' Kaleb Johnson Is Suddenly Fighting For His NFL Future With Career In Jeopardy

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and former head coach Mike Tomlin was excited about his ability to contribute immediately as a rookie. As many NFL fans know, though, transitioning from the college game to the NFL isn't always easy. In Johnson's case, a costly Week 2 blunder, when he fumbled a kickoff, put him behind the eight ball early in his rookie season.

Johnson was never able to recover from that adversity or earn a meaningful role on offense. Instead, he remained buried on the depth chart behind Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren. Now, Gainwell is gone, but Warren remains, along with exciting newcomer Rico Dowdle, who is expected to form a strong one-two punch in Pittsburgh's backfield. 

That has left many wondering where Johnson fits into the Steelers' plans moving forward. According to Steelers insider Chris Carter via his chat for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Friday, Johnson's future on the Steelers' 53-man roster for the 2026 season is in serious jeopardy.

"I actually think Kaleb Johnson is one of the players who technically should've been safe this year, but is in the most danger," Carter said.

The Steelers have several versatile running backs who are pushing ahead of Johnson in the pecking order, creating a logjam in the backfield. That's precisely why Carter believes Johnson's future in Pittsburgh could come down to his ability to contribute on special teams.

If Johnson doesn't show noticeable improvement in that area, Carter believes his time in the Steel City may be coming to an end. With Warren and Dowdle expected to handle the bulk of the workload, Johnson will need to prove he can provide value in multiple phases of the game if he hopes to secure a spot on the Steelers' 53-man roster.

"If he doesn't learn how to help on special teams, it's going to be tough to just reserve a roster spot for a running back who's just there in case someone gets injured," Carter said. "Meanwhile, Eli Heidenreich, Riley Nowakowski and Travis Homer are all guys who are going to try and help in those spots. I think Johnson makes it, but he has work to do."

Johnson still has time to change the narrative, but the pressure will be on throughout training camp and the preseason. The former third-round pick has flashed talent, yet availability on game days often comes down to versatility and reliability for players competing for the final roster spots.

If Johnson can prove he deserves a role on special teams while taking advantage of every offensive opportunity he receives, he could still carve out a place in Pittsburgh's backfield. If not, the Steelers may ultimately decide to move forward with the players who offer more complete value, making Johnson one of the team's most surprising roster casualties ahead of the 2026 season.

Steelers' Kaleb Johnson Had Hoped For A Much Different Rookie Season

In today's sports world, sports betting is everywhere. During the 2025 offseason, Johnson was even asked whether he would go over or under 800 rushing yards in his rookie season. That alone was a testament to how highly his role was viewed entering the year.

Of course, Johnson's rookie season couldn't have gone much worse. He struggled early, lost the coaching staff's trust, and never received another meaningful opportunity to prove himself.

Now, entering the 2026 season, Johnson will be looking to rewrite the narrative. However, with a crowded backfield and increased competition for roster spots, he'll have to earn every opportunity if he hopes to secure his place on the Steelers' 53-man roster.

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