The Pittsburgh Steelers entered training camp last year locked in a heated punter battle, with Corliss Waitman ultimately edging out Cameron Johnston for the roster spot. Waitman stepped up big after Johnston went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 1 of 2024, delivering solid enough production to lock down the job heading into 2025.

Fast-forward less than a year, and the script has flipped in dramatic fashion. Johnston is officially back in Pittsburgh after signing a one-year deal last week, while Waitman has packed his bags and headed west to join the San Francisco 49ers on a one-year agreement signed Sunday. The move ends Waitman’s Pittsburgh chapter — but don’t feel too bad for the Steelers. In his place, the team has quietly secured a legitimate punting freak for 2026: a 6’8″, 210-pound athletic monster whose leg talent and upside have the entire league buzzing behind the scenes.

Waitman was reliable and posted the top two net-yards-per-punt seasons in Steelers history, but replacing him was never going to be about finding “another average guy.” The conversation around punting has evolved league-wide, with aggressive fourth-down teams like the Lions and Eagles proving that elite special teams can flip games. Pittsburgh under new head coach Mike McCarthy isn’t about to abandon the punter’s role entirely — pinning opponents deep and flipping field position still wins football games.

That’s exactly why GM Omar Khan didn’t settle for Johnston as the unquestioned starter. Johnston’s 2025 cameo with the Bills and Giants (just 11 punts in four games) was easily the worst stretch of his career. Khan knew a true upgrade was needed, and the front office delivered in a way no one saw coming: landing the 6’8″, 210-pound punting phenom who’s built like a basketball forward but punts with explosive power, hang time, and precision that scouts are calling generational.

This isn’t just depth — it’s a game-changer. The NFL has never seen a punter with this combination of size, athleticism, and leg strength on a contender’s roster. Opposing return teams are going to hate life, and those analytics-driven coaches who love going for it on fourth down? They’ll think twice when this freak is flipping the field from his own 20.

Waitman is gone, Johnston is back as insurance, and the Steelers have upgraded at punter in the most explosive way possible. Training camp 2026 is going to be must-watch television. The rest of the league has no clue what’s about to hit them.