Steelers Rookie RB Kaleb Johnson Signs Four-Year Deal After Minicamp
New Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson has officially signed his rookie contract following the team’s rookie minicamp. Selected 83rd overall, Johnson’s deal isn’t huge but reflects typical rookie scale for his draft position.
According to OverTheCap.com, Johnson’s contract is worth $6.372 million over four years, including $1.274 million guaranteed. His cap hit for the 2025 season stands at approximately $1.158 million. Combined with Jaylen Warren’s deal, Pittsburgh’s total cap commitment to running backs sits around $6 million.
In a recent interview with Missi Matthews, Johnson described himself as a versatile back capable of both power and finesse. He compared his playing style to a mix of Derrick Henry’s strength and Dalvin Cook’s agility and pass-catching ability.
“I see myself as a versatile back — I can run with power like Derrick Henry or play with the speed and receiving ability of Dalvin Cook,” he said. “That versatility is what sets me apart from other backs in this draft class.”
Johnson had a standout 2024 season at Iowa, rushing for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns. His performance earned him All-Big Ten honors and recognition as an All-American. Despite only logging 540 carries across three college seasons, Johnson proved to be a dynamic and efficient runner, averaging 6.4 yards per carry and 128.1 yards per game as a junior.
He aims to bring that explosive, big-play ability to the Steelers’ backfield.
