Steelers evaluate rookie Kaleb Johnson after costly kickoff error against Seahawks

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson faces an uncertain future on the active roster after committing one of the most costly mistakes of Week 2 in the NFL. Selected in the third round of the 2025 Draft out of Iowa, Johnson allowed a kickoff to bounce off his head and into the end zone, where it was recovered by Seattle Seahawks' George Holani for an inexplicable touchdown, sealing a 31-17 loss that dropped the Steelers to 0-2.

The incident, which occurred early in the fourth quarter with Pittsburgh trailing by three points, has drawn harsh criticism and could cost the rookie his role on special teams and offense, as head coach Mike Tomlin revealed in a press conference on Tuesday. Johnson's blunder wasn't just a lapse in concentration; it demonstrated a clear lack of understanding of the new kickoff rules implemented by the NFL in 2024, which require the receiving team to either return or take possession of the ball if it lands in the "landing zone" between the goal line and the 20-yard line. Instead of pursuing the ball, which touched his body before rolling into the end zone, Johnson simply walked toward the bench, gifting Seattle seven crucial points that shifted the momentum.

"He's not going to be involved in kickoff returns in the near future," Tomlin stated bluntly, emphasizing that the team hasn't yet decided on a replacement from options like Kenneth Gainwell or Trey Sermon, but that Johnson "needs to learn from this." The coach added that he hasn't "even begun to address" the rookie's offensive role, who has only carried the ball twice for minus-1 yards in two games, overshadowed by Jaylen Warren, who signed a contract extension before the season. The play instantly went viral on social media, becoming one of the most ridiculous highlights of the day, with analysts like Ari Meirov of NFL.com describing it as an "absolute gift TD" due to the player's apparent confusion about the rules. Even legendary former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, on his "Footbahlin'" podcast, predicted a bleak future: "That mistake could cost him the 2025 season; he lost credibility in the locker room." Roethlisberger, who won two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh, compared the incident to inexcusable rookie mistakes that result in players being benched for months, suggesting the team prioritize Johnson's development in practice before putting him back in the game. The 22-year-old Johnson explained post-game that "I thought the ball was dead once I touched it," admitting his error and promising a "next-play mentality." Teammate Jaylen Warren, who has mentored the rookie, advised him to focus on resilience: "We all make mistakes, but you have to bounce back." Special teams captain Miles Killebrew also supported him in the locker room, but the impact is undeniable: with Najee Harris now a free agent and with the Chargers, Johnson was seen as the future of the backfield, but his role in returns (eight for 190 yards in two games) seems lost for now. The Steelers, now at the bottom of the AFC North at 0-2, travel to Foxborough to face the New England Patriots in Week 3. Tomlin, known for his iron-fisted discipline, could opt to bench Johnson indefinitely to "protect him and the team," according to sources. In a competitive division with the Ravens and Bengals vying for the top spot, this special teams blunder highlights the need for flawless execution. For Johnson, the message is clear: in Pittsburgh, costly mistakes are punished harshly, and his temporary benching could extend if he doesn't demonstrate quick maturity.