Steelers Rookie RB Kaleb Johnson Flashes Potential in Limited 2025 Action

The third-round pick out of Iowa had a quiet but promising debut season in Pittsburgh.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Pittsburgh Steelers selected running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the 83rd overall pick, out of the University of Iowa. Johnson appeared in 10 games as a rookie, finishing with 28 carries for 69 yards and one reception for 9 yards. He also returned 8 kickoffs for 190 yards. Johnson's best game came in a Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals when he had 5 carries for 15 yards.

Why it matters

The Steelers have been searching for a long-term solution at running back, and Johnson's selection in the third round suggests the team believes he has the potential to develop into a contributor. His limited but promising rookie campaign provides hope that he could grow into a bigger role in the Steelers' offense in the coming seasons.

The details

Johnson was inactive for the final three games of the 2025 season. During his college career at Iowa, he appeared in 35 games, starting 22, and carried the ball 508 times for 2,779 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also had 29 receptions for 240 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson became the 17th player in Iowa history to rush for over 2,000 yards and the 51st player to rush for over 1,000 career yards. He had 12 100-yard rushing games, which ranks sixth in school history.

  • Johnson was selected by the Steelers in the 3rd round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
  • Johnson appeared in 10 games for the Steelers in the 2025 NFL season.
  • Johnson's best game came in Week 11 of the 2025 season in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The players

Kaleb Johnson

A third-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2025 NFL Draft, Johnson is a running back who had a promising rookie season with the team.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The NFL franchise based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that selected Kaleb Johnson in the 2025 draft.

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The takeaway

Kaleb Johnson showed flashes of potential in his rookie season with the Steelers, providing hope that he could develop into a key contributor in their backfield in the coming years. His college production at Iowa suggests he has the talent to be a productive NFL running back, and the Steelers will be looking for him to take on a bigger role in 2026 and beyond.