Diontae Johnson’s last TD catch: Steelers WR finally end drought that started with Ben Roethlisberger

Bryan Murphy

•
Diontae Johnson’s last TD catch: Steelers WR finally end drought that started with Ben Roethlisberger image

Toss that monkey, Diontae Johnson. 

The Steelers wide receiver went the entire 2022 season without finding the end zone. He was held without a touchdown through the first eight weeks of the 2023 season.

Finally, after a span of nearly two years without finding the end zone, Johnson' lengthy touchdown-less streak came to an end on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 9. The Pittsburgh receiver hauled in a three-yard touchdown to bring in his first score in 119 consecutive receptions. 

After the score, all Johnson could do was put his arms up and smile up at the sky, thanking the football gods for finally gracing him with an end zone reception. 

MORE: Latest injury updates on Steelers LB Cole Holcomb after leaving "TNF

"I'm happy I was able to get into the end zone today," Johnson said after the game. "I saw it on Twitter today, I'm like, 'It's really been that long?'

"I'm happy I got in the end zone, and I'm looking forward to getting in the end zone next week."

The Johnson score also ended up being the game-winning score for the Steelers, lifting the team to a 20-16 win over the Titans. Johnson led all receivers in the contest with seven receptions on nine targets for 90 yards and a touchdown. 

"It was great, it was awesome," Steelers QB Kenny Pickett said. "Obviously it was a big deal to get him in the end zone. It's been too long for sure. To see the smile on his face after that was great. I'm sure it felt like the world is off his back now, so he can go relax and play and continue to be the guy that he is for us. He had an unbelievable game."

When was Diontae Johnson's last touchdown?

The touchdown was Johnson's first since Week 17 of the 2021 season, when Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger was still the signal caller for the Black and Gold. In total, the 27-year-old went 669 days in between his touchdowns.  

That was Diontae Johnson's first TD since this one. The streak has ended #Steelers pic.twitter.com/GzQVRohYuX

— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) November 3, 2023

"It was tough, just really how I carried myself each and every day," Johnson said about the lengthy scoreless streak. "Not trying to think about it, but it's like, at the same time, I got to figure out ways. If I've got to do something different or — certain routes, whatever it was.

"Just being myself, and not pressing. Just letting the ball find me, keep getting open and that's what happened."

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.