Kaleb Johnson (running back)

Kaleb Johnson (born August 14, 2003) is an American professional football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes and was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft.

Kaleb Johnson

No. 20 – Pittsburgh Steelers
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(2003-08-14) August 14, 2003 (age 21) Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	224 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:	Hamilton (Hamilton, Ohio)
College:	Iowa (2022–2024)
NFL draft:	2025: 3rd round, 83rd pick
Career history
Pittsburgh Steelers (2025–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Consensus All-American (2024) Big Ten Running Back of the Year (2024) First-team All-Big Ten (2024)
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Johnson attended Hamilton High School in Hamilton, Ohio. 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.^[1] Initially, Johnson committed to play college football for the California Golden Bears.^[2] However, Johnson decided to flip his commitment to play for the Iowa Hawkeyes.^[1]

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.^[3][4] 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.^[5]

Through week 14 of the 2024 NCAA Division I FBS football season, Johnson was fourth in the FBS in rushing yards (1,537) and scoring (23 touchdowns, 138 points), and fifth in rushing touchdowns (21).^[6][7] 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.^[8] Johnson established single-season records at Iowa for rushing touchdowns and scoring.

Statistics

Iowa Hawkeyes
Season		Rushing					Receiving					Kick Return					Speed
	G	Att	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Rec	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Ret	Yards	Avg	Long	TD	Top Speed	40 Time
2022	13	151	779	5.2	75T	6	4	27	6.8	14	0	13	325	25.0	42	0	21.5	4.38
2023	10	117	463	4.0	67T	3	3	25	8.3	13	0	2	77	38.5	54	0	22.1	4.35
2024	12	240	1,537	6.4	75T	21	22	188	8.5	72T	2	0	0	0.0	–	0	22.7	4.31
Career	35	508	2,779	5.5	75T	30	29	240	8.3	72T	2	15	402	26.8	54	0	0	0

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	224 lb (102 kg)	33 in (0.84 m)	9+5⁄8 in (0.24 m)	4.57 s	1.62 s	2.67 s
All values from NFL Combine[9][10]

Johnson was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 83rd pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft.^[11]