Steelers Finally Pull the Plug on the Kaleb Johnson Experiment, Ship RB to Packers

Tom Pelissero dropping trade bombs for Netflix and The Ringer is the new reality, and his latest delivery features the Pittsburgh Steelers finally pulling the plug on the Kaleb Johnson experiment. The second-year running back is being shipped to the Green Bay Packers.

If you blinked during the 2025 season, you probably missed Johnson’s entire Pittsburgh tenure. The former third-round pick out of Iowa managed just 69 rushing yards on 28 carries as a rookie, averaging a cool 2.5 yards per attempt.

"Tom Pelissero reported the trade via Twitter, citing sources for Netflix and The Ringer."

For context, you could trip over a yard marker and fall forward for more distance than Johnson averaged per touch.

The writing was on the wall when Johnson found himself permanently relocated to Mike Tomlin’s doghouse. Things got so bleak this August that he logged exactly five snaps in a preseason game against these same Packers.

By the end of training camp, he was taking reps as the fifth back in the rotation, sitting behind guys like rookie Eli Heidenreich. When you are losing practice snaps to the bottom of the 90-man roster, your bags are already packed.

Green Bay is taking a flier on a guy whose most memorable NFL highlight so far is misplaying a kick return to gift the Seattle Seahawks a free touchdown.

From a betting perspective, this move does not exactly shift the NFC North futures market or alter the Packers' offensive ceiling. It is strictly a depth dart throw for a Green Bay squad coming off a 42-38 preseason shootout win over the Arizona Cardinals.

The Steelers get to clean up their running back room and recoup whatever conditional late-round draft capital they can salvage for a guy who was never going to see the field.

Now the clock starts on Johnson's fresh start. We will see if Green Bay's scheme can unlock the college tape that got him drafted, or if he is just passing through Wisconsin on his way out of the league before Week 1.