One of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ most miserable, and certainly its most bizarre, moments of the 2025 season came in their home opener. A gaffe shown ’round the sports world as rookie running back and kick returner Kaleb Johnson forgot the rules and let a kickoff bounce past him into the end zone. Still a live ball, the Seattle Seahawks recovered it for a key touchdown to take control of the game.
From one running back to another, the player who capitalized on Johnson’s mistake shared his perspective of the play. Seahawks RB George Holani told his side of the story during a recent interview on The Reset podcast.
“As soon as the ball is kicked, I’m sprinting full speed down the field,” Holani told host Gee Scott. “I see him, he’s just walking away from the ball. I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m going to run to the ball. It’s still live.’ I run full speed, I dive and pick it up.”
Holani also credited kicker Jason Myers for good placement on a bouncing ball that confused Johnson. New NFL rules state the ball is dead if it first lands in the end zone, but if it bounces in, the play remains live.
Johnson’s mistake came at a pivotal point of the game. Seattle led 17-14 early in the fourth quarter. Its ensuing score made it a two-possession game and the Seahawks’ defense rode out the rest of the game to a 31-17 victory.
“That was a crazy play,” Holani said.
Johnson was removed from kick-return duties for the rest of the season. It was his most infamous play in a lost rookie year in which Johnson hardly saw the field on offense. By season’s end, he had spent multiple games inactive and finished the year with just 29 total touches and 78 yards from scrimmage. He didn’t dress for the team’s playoff game.
Johnson enters his sophomore season on unusually shaky footing for a recent third-round pick. Veteran Travis Homer and rookie Eli Heidenreich will push him for a roster spot and though Johnson has the benefit of a clean slate thanks to a new coaching staff, it’s hard to think he’s on “scholarship” anymore under a head coach who didn’t draft him.
The irony of it is for Johnson to stick on the roster, he’ll need to impress on special teams. To have value beyond being a runner knowing carries will be scant behind Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle. That could come on multiple phases, including being a blocker or coverage player.
In theory, it could also come with redemption as a returner. Rookie Kaden Wetjen has one kick-return spot spoken for, but Pittsburgh will at least need another one back there. Multiple players figure to be in the mix and Johnson isn’t likely the favorite, but he could be part of the summer lines to give him every chance to state his case.