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Pittsburgh Steelers pick Iowa star Kaleb Johnson in third round of 2025 NFL Draft
Johnson is first Hawkeye running back drafted since Shonn Greene in 2009
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IOWA CITY — Kaleb Johnson has run his way to an NFL opportunity.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected the Iowa star running back with the 83rd overall pick in the third round of the NFL draft.
Johnson is the first Hawkeye to be drafted so far in 2025 and the first Iowa running back drafted since Shonn Greene was the 65th overall pick in 2009.
He is the sixth running back drafted this year, following Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson and UCF’s R.J. Harvey.
Pittsburgh’s selection of Johnson follows a breakout 2024 season, as he rushed for 1,537 yards — more than his other two seasons on campus combined — while accumulating a program-record 23 total touchdowns. The consensus All-American also averaged 6.4 yards per carry.
The Steelers now have taken Hawkeyes in back-to-back drafts. Defensive tackle Logan Lee was their sixth-round selection in 2024.
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