Packers GM invokes a franchise legend while explaining the intriguing logic behind the trade to add offensive piece
Green Bay sent a 2028 sixth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers to acquire running back Kaleb Johnson.
The Green Bay Packers acquired running back Kaleb Johnson from the Pittsburgh Steelers, and general manager Brian Gutekunst offered a compelling reason to believe in the move. Speaking with Green Bay Press-Gazette’s Pete Dougherty, Gutekunst compared Johnson’s situation to that of Ahman Green, the Packers’ all-time leading rusher and a player who needed a second chance to find his footing in the NFL.
The comparison isn’t about talent equivalence, and Gutekunst wasn’t suggesting Johnson will become a Packers legend. The parallel is about circumstances and second chances, though. Green played two underwhelming seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before Green Bay acquired him. He then became one of the best running backs in franchise history, earning All-Pro honors, four Pro Bowl selections, and a spot in the Packers Hall of Fame.
“Sometimes it takes time to adjust to the NFL,” Gutekunst said. “He had a couple hiccups there early in the season that maybe affected him for the rest of the year. Sometimes that happens. We’ve seen a number of players stub their toe with other teams and then get a new opportunity and just take off. The Ahman Greens of the world, so to speak. There’s been a number of those guys, those stories aren’t unusual. We’re hopeful this will be one of those.”
What went wrong in Pittsburgh
Johnson was a third-round pick by the Steelers in the 2025 NFL Draft, but his rookie season unraveled quickly. Early in the year, with Pittsburgh trailing the Seattle Seahawks 17-14, Johnson botched a kickoff return in the fourth quarter. The Seahawks recovered in the end zone for a touchdown, and the play contributed to a Steelers loss.
From that point forward, Johnson lost the confidence of the fan base and potentially the organization itself. He never recovered his standing in the Steelers’ running back room and was essentially out of the equation by season’s end. For a third-round investment, the return was disappointing.
Green Bay has a clear need for depth at running back, and hopefully for them Johnson can show the talent he did at Iowa. Josh Jacobs is currently on the NFL Commissioner’s Exempt List. The Packers are betting on MarShawn Lloyd to handle the starting role, but adding a former third-round pick with untapped potential gives the room another option.
Johnson still has the talent that made him a Day 2 selection a year ago. The question is whether he can apply it in a new environment, with a coaching staff willing to develop him rather than bury him after one costly mistake.
“We really liked him coming out of college,” Gutekunst added. “Everybody that followed him in college and saw the production he had at Iowa, it was pretty off the charts. I think he had 1,500 yards rushing his final year there. He does a nice job in the passing game as well catching the ball. He’s a smooth, big athlete. He’s one of those guys that really fits what Matt’s trying to do offensively in the run game. He’s going to have to learn and get up to speed on how we do things here. But again, he’s a young player we now have under contract for three seasons. As we went through the offseason, it would have been nice to take a running back in the draft this year. We weren’t able to do that with some of the things we did. So I kinda feel like we were able to accomplish that over the past week [with Johnson].”
The Ahman Green blueprint is interesting
Ahman Green was also a third round pick back in 1998. He combined for only 329 rushing yards in his first two seasons for the Seahawks. Green Bay acquired him for cornerback Fred Vinson and a late-round swap, and Green immediately became a huge part of the offense, with 1,175 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first year on the Packers.
Gutekunst’s comparison reflects a broader organizational philosophy. The Packers have historically been willing to bet on players whose situations elsewhere didn’t work out. Johnson doesn’t need to reach that level to justify the trade. If he can become a viable complementary back, the move probably pays off considering the low cost.
The Packers are banking on the idea that a change of scenery and a fresh opportunity can unlock what Pittsburgh never saw. Whether Johnson makes the most of his second chance remains to be seen, but Gutekunst clearly believes the precedent is there.
