As the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting running back, Najee Harris produced four straight 1,000-yard seasons, something only 14 other running backs in NFL history had done before him.
That production and consistency wasn’t good enough though as the Steelers let their 2021 first-round pick walk in free agency, leading to them to selecting Kaleb Johnson in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Now, the Steelers believe they have a running back who fits the zone-rushing scheme offensive coordinator Arthur Smith prefers.
For longtime beat reporter Mark Kaboly, Johnson is not only a better fit for what the Steelers want to do, he’ll also far outproduce what Harris did across four seasons with the Steelers.