A former wide receiver of the Pittsburgh Steelers has opened up about his recent struggles.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson hasn't been able to find his footing in the NFL since the end of the 2023 season and it seems to be taking a toll on his mental health.
Johnson recently took to social media and revealed he is in a bad place mentally.
"I ain't there mentally right now. [I'm] really broken on the inside. I regret every decision I made up until this point," Johnson said .
Prayers: Former Steelers WR Diontae Johnson says he is in a bad place mentally right now and feels "broken" inside.
"I ain't there mentally right now. (I'm) really broken on the inside. I regret every decision I made up until this point."
💔🙏 pic.twitter.com/UJblrRXGCy— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 21, 2026
It is certainly sad to hear, given Johnson's determination to get another chance in the NFL. He posted a video of himself training with RouteGod this offseason with the caption, "Truss!"
However, Johnson hasn't gotten any interest from teams around the league since.
Johnson was once one of the more underrated wide receivers in the league during his five-year tenure with the Steelers, recording 391 catches for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns. But he has since been traded twice and released three times.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson in a game with the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 17, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Johnson's downward trajectory began when the Steelers traded him to the Carolina Panthers in 2024. He quickly became unhappy with the Panthers and forced 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 .
Following Johnson's release, the Houston 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 once again after yet another outburst.
"Diontae Johnson made a scene in the locker room after the game where cigars were literally being smoked and the team was bonding, happy to get a win. It's very easy to see why [Mike] Tomlin was over him, not Pickens and Baltimore, one of the best organizations in NFL, bailed," Texans reporter Landry Locker wrote on X .
Johnson was most recently a member of the Cleveland Browns in 2025, but he was released in late August and hasn't been able to earn another opportunity since.
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