Skip to main content
Join Now

Steelers HC Mike Tomlin hints at decision on rookie Kaleb Johnson after brutal kick return gaffe

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones18 hours agobrianjones_93
Kaleb Johnson
Aug 21, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson (20) during pregame warmups against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has made a decision on rookie running back Kaleb Johnson, who was returning kickoffs for the team. On Tuesday, Tomlin announced Johnson will “probably” not return kicks in Week 3 after he made a big mental mistake in the Steelers’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

“I’m certainly going to give him an opportunity to work his way back from that area,” Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday. “I believe in his talent. He’s a sharp young man. He’s a hard worker, and so you leave the light on for him. You give him an opportunity to move on from it. But he has to do that. He has to display that with his daily work, and he’s got to earn himself back in the position to be a participant.”

The incident occurred when Seahawks kicker Jason Myers kicked off to the Steelers after the Seahawks took a 17-14 lead early in the fourth quarter. Kaleb Johnson allowed the kick to bounce over his head and into the end zone. Seattle continued to cover the kick, which led to George Holani recovering the ball in the end zone to give the Seahawks the 24-14 lead.

Kaleb Johnson reacts to making special teams mistake

After the game, Johnson explained what happened on the play. “I just made a mistake,” Johnson said, per ESPN. “Got to stick to it, move on, and just continue to get better every day.”

Johnson was asked if the ball had touched him, as it would have made it a muffed kick return. “I just got to get better every day,” he said. “That’s all. That’s all I have to say about this. … I just got to just go in there every day now, and just work my hardest, now even more with a chip on my shoulder.”

Under the NFL’s new kickoff rule, any ball that lands between the goal line and 20-yard line (area known as the landing zone) must be returned or downed by the receiving team. If that doesn’t happen, it’s a live ball and the kicking team can recover.

The Steelers selected Johnson in the third round of this year’s draft. Last year, Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and that led to him being named a consensus All-American.