Latest news with #KalebJohnson
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steelers Rookie RB Steadily Improving
Steelers Rookie RB Steadily Improving originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Pittsburgh Steelers lost starting running back Najee Harris to the Los Angeles Chargers this offseason in free agency. So the team could use someone to step up in his place as a result. Advertisement And they have a rookie running back who could do just that. On a recent episode of his podcast, Steelers insider Mark Kaboly spoke a bit about the team's running back room, and he thinks rookie Kaleb Johnson could carve out a spot for himself in the team's backfield. "Kaleb Johnson has been working on it, but you can tell he has all of the tools and he's gonna pick that up really, really quickly," Kaboly said. The former Iowa running back has a bit of problem with pass-blocking, but that is what Kaboly says that the young rookie has been working on so far in team practice and OTAs. In his final season with the Hawkeyes, Johnson showed that he can carry a team by racking up 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground, both of which led the Big Ten Conference. He was also able to show his versatility with just under 200 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Advertisement The Steelers were in the top half of the league this past season in rushing yards with the 11th-most. Now that Harris has moved on from the team, Johnson will be hoping he can slot in and prove his worth by continuing the team's success on the ground. Related: Two-Time Super Bowl Champion Sends Honest TJ Watt Message to Steelers Related: Steelers Praised For Most Controversial Offseason Move This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 17, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Daily News & Links: Joe Haden on T.J. Watt's Minicamp Holdout; Sleeper Steelers Fantasy Pick
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson runs with the ball at OTAs on June 5, 2025. -- Ed Thompson / Steelers Now Steelers Daily News & Links: Your daily stop for all of the news and links. 🏈 Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Joe Haden is confident that T.J. Watt will remain a Steeler. 🏈Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus thinks Steelers rookie running back Kaleb johnson is a sleeper fantasy pick. Advertisement 'He might be one of the most fantasy-relevant backups,' Jahnke said. 🏈 The Steelers had the third-fewest average yards gained (22) on opening drives in 2024, according to Warren Sharp of Sharp Football. 🏈 Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Greg Roman has been blown away by Najee Harris. 🏈 Friday marked the 11-year anniversary of the passing of former Steelers head coach and Hall of Famer Chuck Noll. 🏈 With a brutal late-season stretch, the Steelers will have to get out to a fast start in the first 10 weeks. 🏈 The Pittsburgh Sports and Exhibition Authority approved the team's proposals to overhaul the lawn and to install a new electronic screen at Acrisure Stadium, according to Adam Babetski of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Advertisement The Pittsburgh Steelers' upcoming 'South Lawn Project,' on the corner of North Shore Drive and Art Rooney Avenue, will convert approximately 10,000 square feet of lawn space into an artificial turf field that the team will use 'for the enjoyment of youth athletes' before and during Steelers games and events, the SEA's facilities director, Hillary Frisbie, said. A new electronic sign spanning 1,117 square feet will replace — and significantly dwarf — the 154-square-foot sign multipurpose sign currently located at the site near Gate A. The team estimated the video board will cost between $700,000 and $750,000, but has not given an estimate for the turf field. 🏈 Award-winning filmmaker Bill McAdams Jr. will delve into the extraordinary journey of one of the most iconic pieces of memorabilia in NFL history — the ball from the Immaculate Reception. Advertisement The film will specifically center around Jim Baker, a former insurance salesman from West Mifflin, Pa., who is known for having the Immaculate Reception ball in his possession for several decades, according to Variety. STEELERS NOW CONTENT FROM JUNE 13 🏈 Steelers Salary Cap Update after Aaron Rodgers Signing 🏈 Former Steelers WR Antonio Brown Wanted for Attempted Murder 🏈 Five Takeaways from Steelers Minicamp Day 3: Payton Wilson Eyes 3-Down Role, Another New Guy Who Gets it NEWS FROM AROUND THE SPORTS NOW NETWORK Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Boko is Back! Penguins Sign Imama & Acquired Prospect Fernstrom Advertisement Pittsburgh Baseball Now: Perrotto: Paul Skenes Becoming Modern-Day Ralph Kiner Pittsburgh Sports Now: Pitt Volleyball's Izzy Masten Reclassifies and Joins 2025 Roster West Virginia Sports Now: WVU Athletics: How 2024-25 Spending Compares to the Big 12 Nittany Sports Now: Penn State Hockey Lands Projected 1st-Round Pick Pittsburgh Soccer Now: Riverhounds Notebook: Center back corps maintain club's stout defensive standard This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Daily News & Links: Joe Haden on T.J. Watt's Minicamp Holdout; Sleeper Steelers Fantasy Pick Related Headlines
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin praising former Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson early in career
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin praising former Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson early in career The next former Iowa Hawkeyes talent who could be in a starting role in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is former running back Kaleb Johnson. The former All-American at Iowa and Big Ten Running Back of the Year rewrote part of Iowa's history books with his tremendous 2024 season in Iowa City and is continuing to don the black and gold with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Drafted No. 83 overall in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft, Johnson joins a situation that could see him earn a lot of playing time and carries early in his career. His collegiate tape and early impressions are being felt in Pittsburgh, as Steelers long-time head coach Mike Tomlin is praising Kaleb Johnson early on in his career. "This is a high-volume, capable runner who was the center of his offense, a lot of NFL, Sunday-like runs, if you will. Meaning he did it from the home position or the pistol position into a lot of loaded boxes. It wasn't a lot of guesswork or Saturday-like holes on his tape, and that made the evaluation a fun one and the projection an easy one," Tomlin said about Johnson coming out of college. Kaleb Johnson brings size to the Steelers' running back room as he stands 6-foot-1 and has a 225-pound frame. Tomlin was asked about that factoring into their decision to draft him, but continued to praise his play above all else. "Less concerned about the measurables and really more concerned about the play style and the resume, and certainly he is a guy that's capable of high-volume carries," Tomlin continued. In a recent turn of events, Kaleb Johnson will now have the opportunity to play alongside future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is joining the Steelers. Kaleb Johnson and Aaron Rodgers are acquainted as well, as the two spent time working out together earlier this offseason. His presence in the backfield and command of the offense could make life easier for Johnson in the run game as well as up his usage in the passing game. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Riley on X: @rileydonald7
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Steelers Rookie RB Kaleb Johnson Puts Doubters on Notice: ‘Last Time I Checked, I Hit 22 MPH'
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson sends a warning to those who are doubting his speed. PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers third-round rookie running back Kaleb Johnson fell down draft boards after running a 4.57-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He's heard the noise and has a warning for those who want to continue doubting his speed. Advertisement 'My catching ability, my route running, really my speed,' Johnson said of what goes unnoticed in his game. 'Last time I checked, I hit 22 miles per hour.' Johnson is a bigger back, standing at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds. But he has proven to be more than capable of breaking off big runs during his three years at Iowa. Last season, he reached 22 miles per hour per GPS measurements on field, which translates to a 40-yard dash in the 4.3s. Only a handful of NFL players have hit 22 mph, including new Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf, and nobody is questioning his speed. Johnson has the production to back it up, too. He had a breakout season in 2024, rushing for a career-high 1,537 yards (6.4 yards per carry) and 21 touchdowns. He also recorded 22 catches for 188 yards and two more scores. Kaleb Johnson, Iowa Athletics The only question now is if Johnson can translate his play to the next level. However, he seems to have a good chance of doing just that as a workout freak. Advertisement The 21-year-old is simply focused on getting better every day, and that includes picking the brains of the other veterans in the room. 'Getting better one percent every day, learning from some of the older people like Jaylen Warren and Kenny Gainwell,' Johnson said. 'I'm excited to keep working.' This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Steelers Rookie RB Kaleb Johnson Puts Doubters on Notice: 'Last Time I Checked, I Hit 22 MPH'
USA Today
03-06-2025
- General
- USA Today
PFF ranks Steelers' projected 2025 lineup just outside bottom 10 NFL teams
The Steelers' 2025 projected lineup per PFF has arrived — and the football analytics juggernaut didn't rank them too kindly. With that in mind, here is Pro Football Focus' projected 2025 starting lineup for the Pittsburgh Steelers: Offense: QB Mason Rudolph RB Kaleb Johnson RB Jaylen Warren WR D.K. Metcalf WR Calvin Austin III WR Robert Woods TE Pat Freiermuth LT Broderick Jones LG Isaac Seumalo C Zach Frazier RG Mason McCormick RT Troy Fautanu Defense: DI Cameron Heyward DI Keeanu Benton DI Derrick Harmon Edge T.J. Watt Edge Alex Highsmith LB Patrick Queen LB Payton Wilson CB Darius Slay CB Joey Porter Jr. CB Beanie Bishop Jr. S Minkah Fitzpatrick S DeShon Elliott Aside from some concerns at quarterback and WR2, this roster looks great on paper — but PFF ranked the Steelers' projected lineup rather poorly, placing them just outside the bottom 10 at No. 21. While PFF has typically given the Steelers a hard time with less-than-ideal grades and rankings, Pittsburgh will look to prove them wrong once again this upcoming season. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
