Steelers' Diontae Johnson Says He Issued Bona Fide Apology To His Teammates

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Diontae Johnson certainly hasn't had an easy ride during his five seasons in the NFL. Some of his struggles have been random and some are of his own making. Lately, Johnson has had a knack for making those things that happen worse than they need to be. After his latest faux pas during the Week 12 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Johnson is reportedly owning his behavior and working to make amends with his teammates. 

Johnson supposedly nearly came to blows with teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick after the devastating Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The report was that Fitzpatrick stepped in to silence Johnson when he wouldn't stop "chirping" at the coaches on the sideline and then on their way to the locker room after the game. The two had to be broken up and received a stern talking-to from T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. 

Those actions already had the media and fans riled up. There was lots of talk about Johnson being a "diva" or being "immature." This is why the Bengals game shenanigans were so poorly received. The short version is that Johnson dropped a pass, that should have been a touchdown, in the end zone in Week 12. He was apparently upset by that drop, the call, or the lack of a challenge from his coach, and tuned out on the next play. Of course, karma is like that and wouldn't you know it, running back Jaylen Warren fumbled the ball. He fumbled the ball nearly at Johnson's feet. Johnson appeared to be oblivious, he literally did nothing and the Bengals recovered. 

Now Johnson is having to pay the price. During his recent press conference, Head Coach Mike Tomlin said that Johnson would have to answer to the team and the media on his own. Johnson appears to be doing just that. In a video released by 93.7 The Fan, a contrite Johnson apologizes for his actions.

"I addressed the situation to my teammates, they know how I feel and how I should go about the situation next time it occurs. But I own up to it, I'm not perfect. All I can do is move forward and just keep playing football. That's all I'm worried about."

Johnson went on to say that his teammates did not have much to say about his apology. It was more about him owning his mistakes.

This isn't the first time that Johnson has come under scrutiny from the media. He also appeared to be exchanging words with Tomlin during that same Browns game. It's a lot of drama around one player considering he missed the bulk of the season with a hamstring injury. 

Will The Steelers Welcome Diontae Johnson Back In 2024?

Johnson signed a two-year contract extension in 2022 that averages $18.355 million per year. If he reaches all of his incentives, the contract could be worth up to $39.5 million. Former Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor, who is now a team scout, recently questioned Johnson's effort. Taylor said that he would like to see Johnson playing the way he did, with that old intensity, when he was seeking an extension. 

Taylor isn't the only former Steelers player questioning Johnson's future. Ramon Foster wonders if Johnson will even have a future in Pittsburgh. Losing the respect of your teammates is one of the most difficult things to overcome and Johnson will have to put in the extra effort to get them to see his commitment to the team. 

What do you think about Johnson's apology or explanation? Do you think he will stay in Pittsburgh past the 2023 season? Click to comment below. 

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