“He’ll add hopefully an explosive element to the offense,” Smith said in Pittsburgh after his front office selected Johnson with the 83rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Johnson certainly was explosive in his last season at Iowa, as he had at least one 35-plus-yard carry or reception in eight of the Hawkeyes’ 12 regular-season games.

The Hawkeyes ' star running back was selected in the third round of the 2025 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers with pick No. 83 overall. Johnson departs Iowa City for one of the NFL's most storied franchises in Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh’s selection of Johnson follows a breakout 2024 season, as he rushed for 1,537 yards while accumulating a program-record 23 total touchdowns