The past couple of months have been somewhat turbulent for the Pittsburgh Steelers, specifically with the ambiguity surrounding their quarterback position and the apparent lack of significant offensive enhancements. The possibility of Aaron Rodgers donning a Steelers jersey seems to be their faint glimmer of hope. Also, the club might be banking on DK Metcalf and Pat Freiermuth to deliver in their passing game. Yet, the potential game-changer on the offensive roster might be someone different – the partner in crime to running back Jaylen Warren – the agile Kaleb Johnson.
Kaleb Johnson’s role in invigorating the offense of the Pittsburgh Steelers cannot be overstated. The key to Steelers’ offense, Johnson has exhibited his expertise in outdoor zone games time and again. With his impressive ability to press the edges and his knack for identifying cutback lanes to accelerate the ball in a north-south direction, he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Standing tall at 6-foot-1, tipping the scales at 224 pounds, Johnson uses his physique to his advantage. He possesses this innate quality to elude arm tackles, managing to create opportunities for explosive plays. In fact, his stats reflect his capabilities; he accomplished a national second-best of 21 runs spanning 20 or more yards during the year 2024.
In Pittsburgh, Johnson is not alone; he will be sharing the backfield with another skilled player, Jaylen Warren. However, it is expected that he could emerge as the early-down runner in the due course of time. He adds another dimension to the offense and is a potential game-changer for the team.
Johnson’s influence extends beyond the run; he also makes an impact in the pass game. He is often targeted for screens and swings, showing tremendous versatility in his game. His athletic frame – six feet tall and weighting 225 pounds – has served him well, as evidenced by his impressive stats. He rushed for 1,537 yards with 21 touchdowns, averaging an extraordinary 6.4 yards per carry.
Johnson’s dynamism, coupled with Warren’s, within a zone-based offensive system, opens up very real chances of creating an explosive duo. Looking at what other successful teams have achieved, it is not far-fetched to envisage this duo delivering high-octane performances, giving a significant boost to the overall offense of the team.
As the quarterback question continues to loom over the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kaleb Johnson could potentially become more than just a key player in the 2025 offense. His talent, complimented by his athleticism, could shape him into an instrumental part of this time-honoured team for the foreseeable future.
The Steelers, amidst their quarterback quandary, could be looking at a solution in the form of Johnson. He could be the one to dictate the rhythm of Pittsburgh’s plays in 2025. As a player who can excel in any given role – as a ball carrier or a decoy in the passing game, the possibilities are endless.