Steelers Rookie's Mom Gets a Fan Meet & Greet To Help Son Regain Confidence After Costly Error And Benching

PITTSBURGH — Over the weekend, more than a hundred members of Steelers Nation gathered at a suburban high school gym, where Maria Johnson—the mother of rookie Kaleb Johnson (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers)—personally organized a small fan meeting for her son. The timing was striking: the event came after Johnson made a critical fundamental mistake on a kickoff return that led to a Seahawks touchdown in the Week 2 loss, and he was removed from special-teams duties in the Week 3 win over the Patriots, where he saw only a few limited carries. His return in the Week 4 victory against the Vikings still showed traces of hesitancy.

The hour-long event featured a Q&A, photo ops and autographs, and a small display of Johnson’s Iowa Hawkeyes jerseys. There were no big sponsors or flashy backdrops—just a modest stage, a few rows of folding chairs, and the determination of a mother trying to help her son rebuild confidence after mistakes that drew head coach Mike Tomlin’s criticism for “poor judgment” and a message that he must “earn his way back.”

“You may have seen his mistake on TV, but I know how strong my son is after 22 years together,” Maria said, her voice catching. “He never has to fight alone. This gathering is to remind Kaleb that family, fans, and the team are here, supporting him as he pushes through and comes back stronger.”

According to those close to him, Johnson is a reserved, hard-working type who stood out in college with 1,537 rushing yards and 21 TDs in 2024, but the kickoff blunder (misplaying a bouncing ball into the end zone that turned into a Seattle TD) cost him his role and brought heavy pressure at the NFL level. In camp, he drew praise for his build and power, yet snaps remained limited in a crowded RB room featuring Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell. The fan meeting doubled as a morale boost and a bridge back to confidence.

Maria openly recounted her son’s journey: “From a kid at Hamilton High School grinding nonstop to flip his commitment to Iowa, to a third-round rookie willing to study film for hours even after getting benched… Nothing is ‘over’ here—only discipline, perseverance, and support from loved ones.”

A team media assistant—reportedly present in an unofficial capacity—offered a brief comment afterward: “We appreciate the love families show our players. Personnel decisions are always based on tactical needs and practice performance. Kaleb is learning from the mistake and trending the right way.”

Online, reactions were split. Some fans felt a fan meeting so soon after a major error was “premature.” Others were moved by a mother’s effort to help her son push through. Maria addressed the room right away:

“I’m not here to excuse mistakes. I’m here to remind Kaleb—and everyone—that failure is part of the journey, but you’re never alone when you have faith and support. He’ll be back, and we’ll witness it together.”

As for Johnson, he bowed his head in thanks, speaking briefly before heading backstage: “Thank you, everyone. I’ll let the field do the talking.”

The event ended with a group photo. Maria hugged her son and whispered something reporters couldn’t hear. Johnson smiled, tugged down his Steelers cap, and walked out of the gym to the cheers of a few dozen kids lining up for high-fives.

Johnson isn’t a burner (4.57 in the 40), but his college profile shows power running in gap schemes, good vision, and true workhorse capacity (240 carries in 2024). In Mike Tomlin’s run-heavy approach, that archetype can pop if he cleans up special-teams errors and earns trust in rushing packages.

A mother might be “one step ahead,” but today’s story isn’t PR. It’s a mother’s right to help her son reclaim belief after a setback—and a rookie’s right to keep fighting, knowing he never has to do it alone.