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Latrobe Today
By the People, for the People
Steelers' Kaleb Johnson Eyes James Conner-Style Breakout
Running back aims to follow in footsteps of former Steelers star's career progression
Published on Feb. 26, 2026
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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson struggled during his rookie season, but the team and analysts see similarities between his early career and that of former Steelers star James Conner. Like Conner, Johnson hopes to rebound in his second year and establish himself as a key contributor in the Steelers' backfield.
Why it matters
The Steelers are looking for Johnson to provide depth and production in their running game, especially with the potential departure of Kenneth Gainwell in free agency. Johnson's development could be crucial to the team's offensive plans for the upcoming season.
The details
Johnson, a third-round pick in 2025, never quite recovered from a costly kickoff mistake in Week 2 of his rookie year, which led to a loss of confidence and playing time. Steelers GM Omar Khan expressed disappointment in Johnson's lack of impact during his debut season. However, Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly sees similarities between Johnson's early struggles and those faced by James Conner, who rebounded in his second year to become a key part of the Steelers' offense.
- Kaleb Johnson struggled during the 2025 NFL season, his rookie year.
- The 2026 NFL season will be Johnson's second year in the league.
The players
Kaleb Johnson
A running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers who struggled during his rookie season in 2025 but is looking to rebound in his second year.
James Conner
A former running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers who faced early career struggles but rebounded in his second season to become a key contributor.
Omar Khan
The general manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who expressed disappointment in Kaleb Johnson's lack of impact during his rookie season.
Mark Kaboly
A respected Steelers reporter who has drawn comparisons between Kaleb Johnson's early career and that of James Conner.
Kenneth Gainwell
A running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers who overtook Kaleb Johnson on the depth chart during the 2025 season.
What they’re saying
“Here, I think Khan is spitting facts, and they were surprised by the lack of explosion from [Kaleb] Johnson when he was out there.”
— Mark Kaboly, Steelers Reporter (The @PatMcAfeeShow)
“In his defense, I've seen running backs make huge strides physically from their rookie year to their second year. James Conner comes to mind.”
— Mark Kaboly, Steelers Reporter (The @PatMcAfeeShow)
What’s next
With Kenneth Gainwell potentially departing via free agency, Kaleb Johnson could find more opportunities to earn playing time, possibly rotating behind current starter Jaylen Warren. The Steelers are expected to maintain a running back-by-committee approach, which would allow Johnson to showcase his skills on third downs and sporadic drives depending on his progress during training camp.
The takeaway
Kaleb Johnson's early career struggles mirror those of former Steelers star James Conner, providing hope that Johnson can rebound in his second season and become a key contributor to the team's offense. The Steelers are counting on Johnson to step up and fill a valuable role in their backfield, especially with potential changes to the depth chart.
