Mike Tomlin‘s Pittsburgh Steelers found themselves on the wrong end of a special teams miscue in Week 2. In a tightly contested game against the Seattle Seahawks, that one mistake on the kickoff return by rookie running back Kaleb Johnson turned what could have been a routine possession into a game-changing disaster. Johnson was at the center of the drama, and the fallout from the play is already sending ripples through the team as they reassess roles and responsibilities.
In a recent report, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach has made his decision clear about Kaleb Johnson. The reason behind this decision is, reportedly, the team’s primary kick returner’s costly mistake in the Week 2 loss. To be specific, Johnson mishandled a bouncing kickoff, which allowed the Seattle team to recover the live ball in the end zone for a touchdown. This error extended Seattle’s lead to 24–14. This move effectively sealed the game, obviously for the Seahawks.
The Steelers’ special teams unit, which is known for its precision and reliability under Tomlin’s leadership, was notably left disrupted by this lapse in the Week 2 matchup. It was highlighted when RB Johnson made a critical error on a kickoff return against the Seattle Seahawks. Johnson misjudged a bouncing kickoff near the goal line. And instead of letting it roll for a touchback or cleanly fielding it, he hesitated and left the ball live in a vulnerable spot.
Seattle’s special teams unit reacted instantly, recovering the ball in the end zone for a touchdown. But that score extended the Seahawks’ lead to 24–14. It literally flipped what could have been a one-possession game into a two-possession deficit and significantly shifted the momentum in Seattle’s favor. In his postgame comments, Tomlin described the blunder as “poor judgment by a young player.”
Mike Tomlin’s Tough Response to the Mistakes of Kaleb Johnson
In a recent update by an NFL reporter Brooke Pryor reported that Mike Tomlin says Kaleb Johnson will “probably not” return kicks “in the short term.” Tomlin has reportedly said Kaleb Johnson has “to earn his spot back”. Because the Steelers rely on established players like Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, Johnson will see fewer opportunities unless he proves consistent and significantly improves in practice and future games. With the Steelers’ depth chart featuring established players like Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, Johnson will limit his own opportunities unless he demonstrates significant improvement and consistency in practice and future games.
The blunder will now serve as both a learning moment for the rookie and a reminder of the high standards Tomlin expects from his players.
The mistake highlighted Johnson’s lack of awareness of the new NFL kickoff rules and the importance of decisively handling live balls. It was a costly error. It clearly gave Seattle points without their offense even taking the field. Postgame, Johnson took responsibility for the miscue and acknowledged his unfamiliarity with the new kickoff rules.
“If I wasn’t sure, if I was sure, it doesn’t matter,” Johnson told reporters post-game. “I still got to do what I got to do, and I still got to go in there and execute it the way it needs to be executed.” Looking ahead, Johnson faces the challenge of regaining Tomlin’s trust and proving his reliability on special teams. As the season progresses, Johnson’s ability to respond to this setback will be crucial in determining his role within the team.