Kaleb Johnson didn’t need long in Green Bay to show why the Packers were willing to give him a fresh start. And after Sunday’s 45-27 win over New England, the former Steelers running back made it pretty clear where he stands when it comes to the quarterbacks he’s played with.
Johnson ran for a career-high 68 yards on 14 carries and scored a touchdown in the blowout, stepping into a bigger role after Josh Jacobs suffered a broken finger early in the game. It was another strong step forward for a player who had already topped his rookie-year rushing total with 172 yards in the first half of this season.
That’s a sharp turn from how things went in Pittsburgh. The Steelers took Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft with big hopes for the Iowa back.
Mike Tomlin even said he saw a lot of “NFL, Sunday-like runs” on Johnson’s college highlight reel. But Johnson never really won over the coaching staff, finishing his rookie year with just 69 yards on 28 carries.
Before the 2026 season, Pittsburgh moved on and sent Johnson to Green Bay in exchange for a 2028 sixth-round pick.
Sunday’s win also gave Johnson a chance to talk about the quarterback situation around him, and he didn’t dance around it. Jordan Love threw for 372 yards and accounted for four touchdowns - three through the air and one on the ground - and Johnson said he prefers playing with him over Aaron Rodgers, who had signed with the Steelers before Johnson’s rookie season.
“I’ve had two good quarterbacks, Aaron and him, but I like Jordan better,” Johnson said (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman).
The comment might sound like a jab at Rodgers and Pittsburgh, but Johnson has already made it clear he doesn’t carry that kind of edge. He previously said he “learned a lot” from Rodgers and respected the Steelers for “giving me a chance.”
So this may just be Johnson being direct about what he sees in Green Bay.
In Other News...
Steelers May Already Be Winning The Joey Porter Jr. Trade
The Joey Porter Jr. trade has already become one of those deals that looks different depending on which sideline you stand on. Dallas paid a hefty price to bring him in from Pittsburgh, but the early returns have been uneven as Porter has dealt with health issues and has been limited when he has been available. For the Steelers, the move brought back future draft capital and cleared a path to watch the long-term value of the deal unfold from a distance.
What makes the situation even more interesting is the timing. Porter is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, which only adds to the pressure on Dallas to get something meaningful out of the investment. For Pittsburgh, that looming contract decision is part of why the trade already has the feel of a transaction that could end up favoring the Steelers, even if the final verdict is still waiting to be written. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Head To Cincinnati With First Place Suddenly On The Line
A trip to Cincinnati suddenly carries a lot more weight than it did a few weeks ago. Pittsburgh and the Bengals both arrive at 6-2, both riding four-game winning streaks, and the winner of their Week 10 meeting will leave with a major say in the AFC North race. It is the kind of late-season measuring-stick game that can reshape the division picture in a hurry, especially with the Steelers trying to keep momentum rolling on the road.
The timing only adds to the intrigue around the rest of the division, where Baltimores quarterback situation has taken a sharp turn and the Ravens are now dealing with a very different look under center. For Pittsburgh, the focus is on staying locked in against a familiar rival, while the organization also had to absorb news about Steelers legend Jack Ham, who was hospitalized but reported to be alert while undergoing tests. [Read more 🡒]
Steelers Midseason MVP Debate Says Everything About Their 6-2 Start
At the midseason point, the conversation around Pittsburghs most valuable player says plenty about how this 6-2 start has come together. The Steelers sit atop the AFC North, and the internal debate has centered on the kind of contributors who tend to define a winning team before the calendar turns, with the offense getting most of the attention for the right reasons.
Jaylen Warren has drawn the bulk of the support in the discussion, thanks to the way he has driven the attack and piled up scrimmage production. Zach Frazier also got mention for the steadiness he has brought to the middle of the offensive line, a reminder that Pittsburghs best story so far is not just about one standout, but about a unit that has found enough dependable pieces to keep the team in first place. [Read more 🡒]