The Pittsburgh Steelers have reinstated Cameron Johnston as their punter by agreeing to a one-year contract during the NFL’s legal tampering window. This move reunites Johnston with the team after his release prior to the 2025 season, marking a notable return to Pittsburgh’s special teams unit.
Johnston’s Previous Tenure and Competition for the Punter Role
Cameron Johnston initially joined the Steelers ahead of the 2024 season, signing a three-year, $9 million contract after spending three years with the Houston Texans from 2021 to 2023. Unfortunately, his first year with Pittsburgh was cut short by a knee injury sustained in Week 1 against the Atlanta Falcons, leading the Steelers to replace him with Corliss Waitman for the remainder of that season.
As the 2025 preseason unfolded, Johnston remained under contract but faced increasing competition from Waitman. Both punters saw action during the preseason games. In the opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Johnston’s two punts combined for 94 yards, while Waitman managed a single punt of 57 yards. During the second preseason contest versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Johnston averaged 42.3 yards on three punts totaling 127 yards, whereas Waitman’s three punts gained an average of 58 yards for a total of 174 yards.
In the final preseason matchup against the Carolina Panthers, Waitman’s lone punt covered 35 yards from Pittsburgh’s 35-yard line, while Johnston’s single attempt traveled 33 yards from the Panthers’ 46-yard line. Despite Johnston’s promising performances, it was Waitman who secured the punting job for the 2025 season, prompting the Steelers to release Johnston. Afterward, Johnston appeared in four games spread between the Buffalo Bills and the New York Giants.
Familiarity and Future Prospects on Pittsburgh’s Special Teams
Although Cameron Johnston has limited regular season experience with the Steelers, having played just one game during his initial stint, he is well-acquainted with long snapper Christian Kuntz and kicker Chris Boswell, with whom he has worked extensively during training camps and preseason games. This established rapport may ease his reintegration into the team.
Johnston will now begin working under special teams coordinator Danny Crossman, with whom he has not previously collaborated. Both Johnston and Crossman bring substantial NFL experience, suggesting the transition could proceed smoothly. It is worth noting all three key special teams players—Johnston, Kuntz, and Boswell—are expected to enter unrestricted free agency next offseason, highlighting the importance of this signing in stabilizing Pittsburgh’s special teams unit for the near term.
Bill Burgh: The Steelers have signed punter Cameron Johnston to a one-year contract. pic.twitter.com/z0NdG6y3PC
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 10, 2026
