Pittsburgh Steelers hope Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson adds ‘explosive element to the offense’

IOWA CITY — Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith made it clear that the Steelers “want to be more explosive” in 2025.

“In the years I’ve had it — where you’ve got guys that can rip off explosive runs — that may open up more things in the play pass or the keeper game or even the action screens,” Smith told reporters Friday evening.

The solution (or at least part of it)? Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson.

“He’ll add hopefully an explosive element to the offense,” Smith said in Pittsburgh after his front office selected Johnson with the 83rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Johnson certainly was explosive in his last season at Iowa, as he had at least one 35-plus-yard carry or reception in eight of the Hawkeyes’ 12 regular-season games.

His Pro Football Focus-measured breakaway percentage — how many of his yards came on rushes of 15-plus yards — was a whopping 56.1 percent, which was the highest among running backs with at least 200 carries.

The Steelers used one of their allotted 30 private visits to bring Johnson to Pittsburgh during the predraft process, and the staff saw him as a “really impressive person” along with being “obviously a great football player.”

“Everybody learns differently, so when you take these guys and we meet with them, and as I go through scheme, you’re really just hearing them talk and seeing where they’re at,” Smith said. “Whether it’s protection with the back and what their history is. And obviously at Iowa, they were pretty run-heavy, and he ran multiple schemes. But really think he fits in, no matter what run scheme you want to operate.”

As Johnson goes from one team wearing black and gold to another team wearing black and gold, he could be going from one run-heavy offense to another run-heavy offense.

The Hawkeyes had rushing attempts on 65.8 percent of their offensive plays in 2024. The Steelers, meanwhile, had the fifth-highest percentage of rushing plays in 2024, according to the analytics site Team Rankings. That percentage could be even higher in 2025 considering Pittsburgh’s peculiar quarterback situation.

Johnson will be competing for carries in Pittsburgh with Jaylen Warren, who was an undrafted free agent in 2022. The 5-foot-8 running back had 511 rushing yards in 2024 while averaging 4.3 yards per carry.

“One thing Jaylen does, which is extremely valuable, is how much you trust him in protection in those critical possession downs,” Smith said. “Doesn’t mean a young guy can’t do it, but sometimes that can take something off his plate early on. … Obviously if something happens to Jaylen or somebody else, his role can expand.”

Johnson is explosive, though, and that’s what the Steelers — coming off a season with the fewest touchdowns scored among playoff teams — badly need.

“It usually produces more touchdowns, and that’s what we’re looking for,” Smith said.

Comments: john.steppe@thegazette.com

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