PITTSBURGH Steelers fans are demanding that their own player be fired after a costly mistake.
The Steelers registered their first loss of the season against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Kaleb Johnson let the ball bounce over his head for a simple TD[/caption]
George Holani scored after Johnson assumed the play was dead[/caption]
The Seahawks ran away 31-17 victors, despite the score being tied less than a minute before[/caption]
The score was level, 14-14, heading into the final fifteen minutes.
But it all went wrong for Pittsburgh when Jason Myers nailed a 54-yard field goal early into the final quarter, giving his side a three-point lead.
Myers then proceeded to kick off towards rookie running back Kaleb Johnson.
The 22-year-old let the ball bounce through his hands and over his head, into the end zone.
Johnson then proceeded to run towards the Steelers’ sideline, assuming the play would be called dead.
However, Seattle continued to cover the kick, and George Holani dove on the ball before it rolled out of the back of the end zone.
This gifted the Seahawks a touchdown and a 24-14 lead.
Part of the confusion was due to the recent change in the NFL’s rules.
They now state that if the ball lands between the goal line and 20-yard line and goes into the end zone, it must be returned or downed by the receiving team.
If it is not, then it is a live ball.
Fans were not happy with Johnson’s mistake, taking to X to criticise him.
One fan said, “That’s embarrassing.
“You’d think players would take the time to learn the rules of the game that pays them so well.”
Another commented, “Rookie mistake from Kaleb Johnson.
“Missed the new kickoff rules and Seahawks cash in with a free TD.”
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A third wrote, “He needs to be benched.”
Speaking after the game, Johnson declined to answer whether or not he knew the rules, but he did reflect on the play.
He stated, “I just made a mistake. Got to stick to it, move on, and just continue to get better every day.”
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was blunter in his assessment of the rookie.
He remarked, “It’s poor judgment by a young player.”
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