Steelers Rookie Kaleb Johnson Plans To Be The 'Next Level' Compared To Najee Harris

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the early stages of getting to know and understand the personalities and play-styles of their new rookie additions. On Friday, the black and gold kicked off a three-day period of rookie minicamp, which includes 15 rookies (some drafted and undrafted) and 25 others to tryout. Many of the Steelers' 2025 draft picks expressed serious confidence in themselves on the first day of minicamp, like Derrick Harmon, Will Howard, and Kaleb Johnson.

For the last four seasons, the Steelers have had a very reliable running back in Najee Harris, who surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in each season. With the lack of big plays from Harris, his time with the Steelers ran short after his rookie contract expired. The Steelers drafted Johnson in the third round to replace Harris in 2025, for a chance to hopefully find a star running back that can spend more than four years with the franchise. 

On Friday, Johnson and some of the other Pittsburgh draftees got a chance to speak with reporters. Johnson had the utmost confidence in himself as a running back, and even set some big goals for his rookie season and NFL career. Johnson was asked if he was a good fit for the Black and Gold. 

"Great fit, you know, great fit," Johnson said. "Learning from Coach Faulkner, he's one of the greats, I feel like, coaching. You know, as far as Warren, Najee being here, Le'Veon, all of them guys, coming under here and they were really doing successful. Najee had a thousand yards every four years, that doesn't just happen for no reason."

Johnson proceeded to detail what kind of NFL career he plans and hopes to have in the Steel City.

"I want to be the next level. I want to come in, you know, I want to get more. I want to be rookie of the year this year. That's my main thing. Super Bowls, rookie of the year, All-Pro, I want to do all of that. I feel like they can best support me here and I can do it."

The last Steelers running back to win the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award was Franco Harris in 1972. The last back to earn an All-Pro selection with Pittsburgh was Le'Veon Bell in 2017, who some have compared to Johnson as far as play-style. It is certainly a tall task to earn the type of awards Johnson is hoping for, but under the right coaching staff, like Arthur Smith, it could be possible for the 83rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. 

While Harris and Jaylen Warren have had some special games and moments as a one-two punch over the last three seasons, Pittsburgh's rush attack never got to the level of dominance they wanted. Some of that has to do with Harris having a short number of big runs, and a lot of it is at the fault of the offensive line, which was in a rough spot for many years. With the o-line in better condition currently, Johnson and Warren could be set for a big year in 2025, and some of Johnson's goals could become a reality. 

Steelers' Backfield Has Much More Explosiveness In 2025

Smith, when he and the coaching staff spoke to the media following the draft, explained that the Steelers decided to select Johnson in the third round due to his explosiveness and his help in the passing game. With Harris and Cordarrelle Patterson in the backfield last season with Warren, the Steelers just seemed behind in that aspect. 

Assuming Patterson may not make the Steelers' 2025 roster, and with the additions of Johnson and Kenneth Gainwell, Pittsburgh's backfield should look like a noticeable difference on the field this season.