BREAKING: Steelers Add Bruising Running Back Kaleb Johnson
The Pittsburgh Steelers are selecting Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson with the No. 83 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are adding to their running back core after losing Najee Harris to the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency, drafting Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson with the No. 83 overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Johnson, 21, immediately fills the void left by Harris. He stands at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds and fits perfectly into offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s offensive scheme.
In 2024, Johnson had a breakout season, rushing for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns while averaging 6.4 yards per carry. He also recorded 22 catches for 188 yards and two more scores.
Johnson fell a bit further than expected ranked as the fifth-best running back and No. 56 overall player on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board. However, that was likely due to his performance at the NFL Scouting Combine.
In Indianapolis, Johnson ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash, earning himself a 64 athleticism score. That ranked 27th overall among running backs at the combine.
Johnson joins running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell in Pittsburgh, but he provides a longer-term option at the position since Warren and Gainwell are both set to play on one-year deals in 2025.