The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2026 offseason saw them welcome in several new faces from a personnel standpoint. The entirely new coaching staff led by Mike McCarthy has a lot of familiar faces, but also ones that were not members of the Black and Gold in 2025. The team did a great job of filling out and complementing its roster ahead of the 2026 campaign. With the return of Aaron Rodgers at quarterback official, the team is looking to find success again in the playoffs, which they have not had in a while. He will reunite with McCarthy looking to an an almost decade long playoff drought.
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Steelers new Head Coach Mike McCarthy coaching Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in an NFL game in 2015 against the Oakland Raiders.
His return to the Steel City for one more year makes the quarterback position clear. However, there are some roster spots that will be battled out for and make for some complicated decisions. On Friday, Christopher Carter of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had his weekly chat and discussed one specific situation between three players currently on the roster.
"It would take some serious twists and turns," Carter wrote. "I don’t think this coaching staff will be as attached or patient to [Kaleb] Johnson’s development, and the flexibility of both [Riley] Nowakowski and [Eli] Heidenreich helping on special teams could give them a leg up. I like the idea of Johnson getting more time, but he has to find a way to help on special teams or the rookies who do help there may become a higher priority to keep on the final 53."
Riley Nowakowski had a solid year in 2025 at Indiana after he transferred from Wisconsin. The Hoosiers won the college football playoff National Championship and he made some nice contributions. He had 32 receptions for 387 yards and two touchdowns in 2025 with them.
He also played fullback and tight end, so he has some versatility in his game which he looks to translate to the NFL. Eli Heidenreich was also a versatile player that the team drafted from Navy. In his 2025 season, he played wide receiver as well as running back.
He had 77 carries for 499 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. He also had a solid season receiving with 51 receptions for 941 yards and six touchdowns. Both players now have a chance to take a roster spot from running back Kaleb Johnson.
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Steelers seventh round draft pick Eli Heidenreich working out during organized team activities in May of 2026.
Steelers May Have Seen Last Of Johnson's Playing Days
New running backs coach Ramon Chinyoung Sr. recently mentioned how Johnson has been a professional as he works with him during Organized Team Activities. However, Johnson had a crucial error last season on a kickoff return against the Seattle Seahawks, which immediately gifted them a touchdown.
It is believed he may have a chance to turn over a new leaf with the new coaching staff and move past that moment. However, as Carter discussed in his chat, the rookies will be given a chance to leave him as the odd man out. In his 2025 rookie season, Johnson had just 28 carries for 69 yards for the Steelers, good for just a two and a half yards per carry average.
With Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle as veterans at the running back position — and Heidenreich already having experience — it is not crazy to think that Johnson's playing days in Pittsburgh may already be coming to an end.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Kaleb Johnson (20) during a joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium on Thursday August 14, 2025 in Pittsburgh, PA.
It also is not a bad idea for Johnson to get some more time with the franchise, as Carter also pointed out in his chat. However, Nowakowski and Heidenreich having the versatility to play a couple positions on the field could mean that if roster spots are dwindling down when cuts need to be made, Johnson could be that odd man out.
It is good to have healthy competition at many positions on the roster for Pittsburgh, but that competition may also make for some tough decisions ahead.
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