Kaleb Johnson (born August 14, 2003) is an American professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

running back A running back (RB) is a member of the offensive backfield in gridiron football. The primary roles of a running back are to receive American football plays#Offensive terminology, handoffs from the quarterback to Rush (American football)#Offense ...

for the

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL). He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Early life

Johnson attended

Hamilton High School Hamilton High School may refer to: United States Alabama * Hamilton High School (Alabama) in Hamilton Arizona * Hamilton High School (Chandler, Arizona) in Chandler Arkansas * Lake Hamilton High School in Pearcy California * Hamilton High Sc ...

Hamilton, Ohio Hamilton is a city in Butler County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Located north of Cincinnati along the Great Miami River, Hamilton is the second-most populous city in the Cincinnati metropolitan area and the List of municipaliti ...

. He was rated as a three-star recruit and the 36th overall running back in the class of 2022, receiving offers from schools such as California, Cincinnati, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, Kentucky, Minnesota, Iowa, West Virginia, Ball State, Kent State, Liberty, Marshall, Miami University, Toledo, Western Michigan, and Eastern Kentucky. Initially, Johnson committed to play

for the

California Golden Bears The California Golden Bears are the athletic teams that represent the University of California, Berkeley. Referred to in athletic competition as ''California'' or ''Cal'', the university fields 30 varsity athletic programs and various club te ...

. However, Johnson decided to flip his commitment to play for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

College career

In his first two seasons in 2022 and 2023, Johnson rushed 268 times for 1,242 yards and nine touchdowns and hauled in seven receptions for 52 yards. In the 2024 season opener, he rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries despite being suspended for the first half of the game, helping the Hawkeyes to a win over Illinois State. Through week 14 of the

2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season The 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season was the 155th season of college football in the United States, the 119th season organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the 49th of the highest level of competition, the ...

, Johnson was fourth in the FBS in rushing yards (1,537) and scoring (23 touchdowns, 138 points), and fifth in rushing touchdowns (21). After the conclusion of the regular season, Johnson was named first-team all-Big Ten and Big Ten Running Back of the Year, and a consensus first-team All-American. He was also a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. Johnson established single-season records at Iowa for rushing touchdowns and scoring.

Statistics

Professional career

Johnson was selected by the

with the 83rd pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft.

References

External links

Pittsburgh Steelers bioIowa Hawkeyes profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Kaleb 2003 births Living people Players of American football from Hamilton County, Ohio American football running backs Iowa Hawkeyes football players Pittsburgh Steelers players