Former third-round pick sees opportunity in Packers backfield

Wes Hodkiewicz

GREEN BAYKaleb Johnsonwasn't thinking trade.

As his second NFL training camp in Pittsburgh drew to a close, the 6-foot-1, 224-pound running back was focused on the season and doing everything in his power to help the Steelers win.

Then, the phone rang. He was heading to Green Bay.

"They just called me and told me I was getting traded and that's it," Johnson said. "I give all respect to the Steelers for giving me a chance and drafting me. But it's 'Go Pack Go' now."

It has been an interesting 16 months for the Johnson since he was drafted in the third round (83rd overall) out of Iowa. Admittedly, Johnson's rookie season got off to a rocky start, beginning with his letting a kickoff bounce into the end zone during a Week 2 matchup with Seattle.

In college, it would've been a touchback, but with the NFL's new dynamic kickoff rules, it was a touchdown when the Seahawks jumped on the loose ball.

Johnson didn't return the rest of the season and played just 51 offensive snaps in 10 games as a rookie, finishing with 69 rushing yards on 28 carries.

"I feel like that kickoff killed me," Johnson said. "From then on it was just downhill from there."

There were positives in Pittsburgh. He has a great relationship with general manger Omar Khan and lead running back Jaylen Warren, who encouraged Johnson to keep his head up after the Week 2 miscue.

More recently, Johnson laughs about his experience working with former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But with the Steelers' run game going a different direction, the former All-American is energized for his new opportunity in Green Bay.

He's hungry to prove he's the same All-Big Ten running back who rushed for 1,537 yards and 21 touchdowns during his junior with the Hawkeyes in 2024.

Johnson's offensive coordinator that season was Tim Lester, the former Western Michigan head coach who was a senior analyst for the Packers while in between college jobs.

Lester's scheme fit Johnson's playstyle perfectly and the 23-year-old running back sees parallels with the outside-zone scheme Green Bay runs under Matt LaFleur.

"He knew my game and he knew that I knew I could run the ball," Johnson said of Lester. "I'd be crazy, it'd be third-and-12 and he would run the ball. It was fun, bro. I just really give him all the props for trusting in me and putting me on that pedestal and really allow me to show my performance and what I can do."

Green Bay was busy this past weekend not only setting its initial 53-man roster but also determining the best course of action for its backfield after starting running backJosh Jacobswas placed on the commissioner's exempt list Sunday.

The search for backfield support behind former third-round pickMarShawn LloydandChris Brooksled General Manager Brian Gutekunst back to Johnson, a hard-nosed bell cow whom the Packers had their eye on during the 2025 pre-draft process.

"We liked him a lot," Gutekunst said. "His first year in Pittsburgh probably didn't go the way he wanted it to. Didn't have the kind of impact that he wanted, but certainly a really talented guy. I think he's going to fit into our culture really well, and so I'm excited to get him here."

Johnson already feels the love in the Packers' locker room. His new locker is directly next to friend and former Iowa teammateLukas Van Ness. Johnson also praised quarterbackJordan Lovefor how welcoming he's been in their short time together.

Joining Johnson in Green Bay is former Steelers tight endJonnu Smith, who signed with the Packers on Saturday. The 10th-year veteran spent last season with Johnson in Pittsburgh and sees a young player with a lot of untapped potential.

"KJ, he's got a ton of ability, man," Smith said. "Young kid, great with the ball in his hands. He's had a ton of success in college. I'm sure as he continues to put the work in, that's going to translate into this next level."

Johnson doesn't necessarily view the trade to Green Bay as a needed change of scenery. It's football. It's business and things move fast. He's not concerned about roles, touches or playing time. Johnson wants to pick up the playbook as quickly as he can and take it from there.

But it does feel good to be with a team he knows wanted him from the start. Johnson recalls conversations with the Packers leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft and scouts telling him to be ready to pick up the phone if Green Bay called.

It came one year later than expected but it's an opportunity all the same.

"I feel like it fits me really good," Johnson said. "It's all fluent and it's all in the same situation, so I feel like now I even know more to expect, what the protections are, and the sky's the limit for me."