When the Pittsburgh Steelers went on the clock at pick No. 83 in the 2025 NFL Draft, a lot of folks were scratching their heads. Was it going to be a wide receiver to replace the production they’ve been missing? Maybe another offensive lineman to keep rebuilding the wall? Instead, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin went back to the Big Ten well. They took Kaleb Johnson, the powerhouse running back from Iowa. Honestly, if you’ve watched a single minute of Iowa football over the last couple of years, the pick makes a ton of sense for a team that prides itself on "Steelers DNA."
It was a cold, rainy night in Green Bay when the pick came in. Lynn Swann, the Hall of Fame legend himself, walked up to the podium to announce it. You could almost feel the collective sigh of relief from the coaching staff. For a team that had just watched Najee Harris depart in free agency for the Chargers, the backfield was looking a little thin. Sure, Jaylen Warren is a total stud—everyone knows that—but you can’t run a Mike Tomlin offense with just one guy. You need a hammer.
Who Exactly is the Steelers 3rd Round Pick?
Kaleb Johnson isn't your typical "flash and dash" kind of runner. Standing 6-foot-1 and tipping the scales at 224 pounds, the kid is basically a human bowling ball. He grew up in Hamilton, Ohio, which is basically in the Steelers' backyard. He was a beast at Iowa, which, let’s be real, is where offensive players go to prove they can survive in the trenches.
Last year was his breakout. He finished 7th in the entire country for rushing yards. He put up 1,537 yards and found the end zone 21 times. That’s an Iowa program record, by the way. Imagine doing that in an offense where every single defender in the stadium knows you’re getting the ball. That’s the kind of grit the Steelers crave.
The Scouting Report: Power and Patience
When you watch his tape, the first thing that jumps out is the burst. For a guy that big, he gets to the line of scrimmage incredibly fast. He’s a north-and-south runner. He doesn't dance around. He sees the hole, he hits it, and he usually drags a linebacker three yards forward with him.
What to like about Johnson:
- Decisiveness: He doesn't waste time in the backfield.
- Size: He’s built to handle 15–20 carries a game without breaking down.
- Pass Protection: This is the big one. Arthur Smith loves backs who can actually block, and Johnson is already ahead of the curve here.
Of course, no rookie is perfect. Some scouts worried about his vision. Sometimes he tries to bounce things outside when the middle is clogged, and in the NFL, those cornerbacks are way too fast for that. He also had a bit of a rough start to his pro career—remember that muffed kickoff against Seattle? Yeah, that got him a quick trip to the bench in Week 3. But honestly, that’s just the "Tomlin Way." You mess up, you sit, you learn, and you come back stronger.
How He Fits Into Arthur Smith’s Offense
Let’s talk about the scheme. Arthur Smith is the guy calling the shots now, and he wants to run the damn ball. He wants to wear you down until you’re too tired to pass rush in the fourth quarter. The Steelers 3rd round pick was drafted specifically to be the thunder to Jaylen Warren’s lightning.
Early in the 2025 season, it was a bit of a crowded room. You had Warren, you had the free-agent addition Kenneth Gainwell (who somehow ended up being the team MVP, go figure), and then you had Johnson. It wasn't an easy transition. Johnson only appeared in 10 games as a rookie, and his stats weren't exactly Hall of Fame worthy—69 rushing yards on 28 carries. That’s a 2.5 average, which... okay, it's not great.
But stats don't tell the whole story.
The Steelers aren't looking for Kaleb to be the lead dog right away. They wanted a guy who could thrive in short-yardage situations and keep the chains moving. When he came back from his benching in Week 4 against the Vikings, you could see a change. He looked more patient. He wasn't just running into the backs of his linemen. He was waiting for the block to develop.
The "Steelers DNA" Factor
Omar Khan mentioned it right after the draft. He said these guys have "Steelers DNA." What does that even mean? Usually, it means they’re tough, they don't complain about their role, and they play their best when the weather gets miserable.
Johnson fits that to a T. He played in the Big Ten. He’s used to 20-degree games and defenses that stack eight men in the box. He’s the kind of player who makes the defense sore the next morning. Even though he didn't put up massive numbers in 2025, his presence allowed the team to keep Warren fresh.
What Most People Get Wrong
A lot of fans were upset that the Steelers didn't take a wide receiver here. They looked at the roster and saw a need for more playmakers. But look at how the season played out. The Steelers won 10 games and took the AFC North. They did it by playing "bully ball." You can’t play bully ball with a bunch of 180-pound sprinters. You need guys like Kaleb Johnson and the first-round pick, Derrick Harmon, to win the line of scrimmage.
What’s Next for the 3rd Round Pick?
Going into the 2026 offseason, the expectations for Johnson are going to ramp up. The "rookie grace period" is officially over. He’s had a year to digest the playbook, a year to get used to the speed of the NFL, and a year to realize that you can’t just outrun everyone like you did in Iowa City.
Actionable steps for the Steelers and Johnson in 2026:
- Commit to the Scheme: Johnson needs to fully embrace the "one-cut" style of Arthur Smith's outside zone. No more hesitating.
- Special Teams Value: To stay active on game days, he has to be a core special teams player. That means no more kickoff errors.
- Short Yardage Specialist: With his size, there’s no reason he shouldn't be the primary option on 3rd-and-1 or goal-line carries.
The Steelers have a history of finding gems in the middle rounds. Whether it’s been offensive linemen or bruising backs, they know what they’re looking for. Kaleb Johnson might not have had the flashiest rookie season, but he’s the exact type of player this franchise is built on. Keep an eye on his training camp highlights this summer—if he’s narrowed his vision and kept that same burst, he’s going to be a problem for the rest of the AFC North.
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The transition from college star to NFL role player is never easy. It’s even harder in a city like Pittsburgh where the fans expect a championship every single year. But if you’re looking for a guy who can handle the pressure and deliver a hit, the Steelers found him in the third round. He's not just a depth piece; he's the future of the ground game.