Former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson Opens Up About Tumultuous 2024 Season

Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson explained what went wrong for him during the 2024 season.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson had a very rocky 2024 season, during which he spent time with four different teams. He recently opened up about his tumultuous campaign on the “Sports and Suits” podcast.

The Steelers traded Johnson to the Carolina Panthers last March, and it didn’t take long before he became unhappy with the Panthers, forcing his way out of Carolina.

At the trade deadline, the Panthers dealt him to the Baltimore Ravens. But after a few games in Baltimore with a greatly reduced role, Johnson refused to enter a game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was suspended for a week, sat out a week and then was released.

Johnson shed some light on how things played out from his perspective.

“I wasn’t getting into no run plays, no passing plays or nothing. It was cold,” Johnson said. “End of the third going into the fourth, they were like, ‘Tae, we need you.’ I was like, ‘Nah, I don’t think it’s a good idea for me.’ Like, my legs are already ice cold and I didn’t wanna go out there and put bad stuff on film. It’s not like I didn’t wanna go into the game, but leading up to this point, I had been through so much. … I told them I’m not finna go in, so I just sat on the bench, and that’s when they suspended me.”

Following Johnson’s release, the Texans claimed him off waivers. Things seemed to go well at first, but he ultimately only lasted two weeks in Houston before he was released again after yet another outburst.

“When I got to Houston, things were going smooth,” Johnson said. “The way they made it feel was like they were going to be playing me a lot. I learned the playbook so fast, and then come game time, they were putting in the younger guys — but I understand, it was the guys they drafted, so I gotta wait my turn. … But I checked out mentally. … After that, they said I was a distraction and they released me.”

Johnson is now a member of the Cleveland Browns after signing a one-year, $1.17 million deal this offseason. He seems determined to change the narrative around him, but he reportedly did not show up for the Browns OTAs.

OTAs are voluntary, but as a player who has struggled to stick with a team as of late, skipping any portion of the offseason isn’t a good idea. So all eyes will be on Johnson in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson Opens Up About Tumultuous 2024 Season