Film Room: The Steelers have a perfect fit for their run scheme in Kaleb Johnson

The Steelers nabbed Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the NFL draft on Friday, providing them a necessary compliment to Jaylen Warren in the backfield.

Johnson rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, despite facing more stacked boxes, meaning structures where the defense had a +1 advantage against the run, than any back in college football. When Iowa spread the formation and lightened the box, Johnson was one of only two runners in the nation, along with Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson, to average more than eight yards per carry. He was also second in the nation to Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty in yards-after-contact. If the Steelers can create space for Johnson, which they should be able to do, given the presence of George Pickens and DK Metcalf on the perimeter, he is a problem for defenses.

Johnson is also a finisher. He averaged over six yards per carry in the fourth quarter last season, despite being a full-time workhorse for the Hawkeyes. In Pittsburgh, he will split carries with Warren, meaning Johnson should be reasonably fresh when the fourth quarter rolls around. If the Steelers can get to the final quarter with a lead, they will have a great closer in their bullpen in Johnson.

The best part of Johnson’s acquisition, though, is his fit in offensive coordinator Arthur Smith’s run scheme. Johnson was trained in a zone system at Iowa, and excels as a zone back. He is particularly adept at running wide zone, which is Smith’s favorite concept. The Steelers could never get that play off the ground last season, in part because they didn’t block it well. But they lacked a back who excelled at the scheme, too. Now, in Johnson, they have that player.

Johnson’s running style is reminiscent of another back the Steelers selected out of the Big Ten whose patience, vision, power, and burst made him a great runner. When you watch the video breakdown below, tell me you don’t get Le’Veon Bell vibes. The Steelers won’t ask Johnson to carry the workload the way they did with Bell. But if he can even closely resemble Bell at his best, Pittsburgh got a steal.

Here’s my video breakdown of Johnson. I’d love to hear your thoughts on him in the comments below:

Kaleb Johnson film room.

A big, physical runner who possesses patience, vision, and burst. Tons of experience in the zone scheme, which is Arthur Smith’s bread-and-butter. A finisher.

Le’Veon Bell vibes…@FFSNSteelCity pic.twitter.com/LBrZ71BTnG

— Kevin Smith (@KTSmithFFSN) April 26, 2025

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