Steelers HC Punishes Kaleb Johnson After Basic Foul Leads Team to Bitter Defeat

Pittsburgh, PA — September 16, 2025 — Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has taken a hard stance on rookie running back Kaleb Johnson, benching him for Week 3 against the New England Patriots following a critical error that contributed to the team’s 31-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. The decision underscores the high stakes for a Steelers team struggling to find consistency early in the 2025 NFL season.

Selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Kaleb Johnson was expected to quickly carve out a significant role in Pittsburgh’s backfield. With his impressive athleticism and versatility, the rookie was seen as a key piece in bolstering the Steelers’ ground game. However, Johnson’s NFL career has gotten off to a rocky start. Limited in his contributions to the offense, he has primarily served as the team’s primary kick returner. In Week 2, his inexperience proved costly when he muffed a routine kickoff deep in Steelers’ territory during the fourth quarter. The fumble was recovered by Seattle’s George Holani, who scored a touchdown that shifted the game’s momentum and sealed Pittsburgh’s fate. The blunder turned a competitive game into a disheartening defeat, leaving Steelers Nation frustrated and the locker room tense.

Post-game reports revealed heated exchanges in the locker room, with veteran players, including star linebacker T.J. Watt, confronting Johnson over the mistake. Now, Tomlin has opted to discipline the rookie by sidelining him for the upcoming game, signaling a focus on accountability and reliability as the Steelers sit at 1-1 in a fiercely competitive AFC North.

Commenting on the situation during a recent appearance on CBS Sports HQ, former NFL general manager Ran Carthon supported the Steelers’ approach. “This is a draft pick, so we’re not going to cut him,” Carthon said. “But personally, knowing he’s not a key piece in the offense, he’s got to sit next week. He won’t play, and we’ll bring back guys who know the rules, who understand how to play this game, because this is a mental game. Everything matters... We’re talking about going from a three-point lead to a 10-point deficit because of one bad decision by a young player. That shows we can’t trust you right now. It’s not that you can’t recover, but in a short window like this, especially after losing a game they should’ve won, we’ve got to put you on the bench and bring back players we can trust.”

The decision has sparked varied reactions among Steelers fans. On platforms like X, some praised Tomlin’s tough-love approach, with one user writing, “Johnson needs to learn the hard way. Sitting him sends a message.” Others expressed concern that benching a promising rookie could stunt his development, especially as the team awaits the return of rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon in Week 3 to bolster the defense. With challenging matchups against teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns looming, Pittsburgh cannot afford further missteps.

Tomlin’s move to bench Johnson serves as a reminder that in the NFL, every play can make or break a game. As the Steelers prepare for a critical Week 3 showdown with the Patriots, the focus will be on restoring discipline and leveraging veteran leadership to stabilize the team. For Johnson, the path to redemption will require proving his reliability, but for now, he’ll watch from the sidelines as Pittsburgh fights to regain its footing in the AFC.