The Pittsburgh Steelers gave up a crucial touchdown during Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks after rookie running back Kaleb Johnson made an inexcusable mistake.
The Seahawks took a 17-14 lead over the Steelers with a field goal early in the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pa. On the ensuing kickoff, Seattle kicker Jason Myers kicked the ball into the landing zone, which is defined as the area between the receiving team’s goal line and the 20-yard line.
Johnson tried to field the ball after it hit the ground, but it got by him and bounced into the end zone. Johnson then turned around and nonchalantly looked at the ball before jogging toward the sideline.
The Seahawks recovered the ball in the end zone, which resulted in a touchdown.
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Kaleb Johnson makes one of the worst special teams mistakes you'll ever see pic.twitter.com/IFeRVyvWFV
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 14, 2025
The NFL has completely revamped the kickoff play over the past two seasons. Prior to 2024, a ball that landed and bounced into the end zone would automatically be a touchback. With the new rules, the Steelers needed to either return the ball or down it in the end zone for a touchback. Johnson’s lack of urgency after he missed the ball suggested he had no clue the play was still live.
It is possible the Seahawks would have recovered the ball anyway, but the fact that Johnson seemed to not know the rules as a kick returner has to infuriate Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh’s coaching staff.
