The Pittsburgh Steelers knew change was coming. With Russell Wilson‘s time in black and gold coming to an end after a playoff run that didn’t quite hit the mark, the front office had to make some moves-and fast. There were rumors that Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders might be their guy at pick 21, but instead, they picked Oregon’s Derrick Harmon to strengthen the defense. The quarterback fix came later, in the sixth round, with Ohio State’s Will Howard, the reigning national champ.
But the big news was signing Aaron Rodgers, who had been in talks with Pittsburgh for weeks before he finally agreed to join the team. With Rodgers set as the starter and Howard waiting in the wings-likely behind Mason Rudolph for now-the Steelers are counting on a mix of veteran grit and rookie promise to turn their fortunes around.
Will Howard’s Eye-Opening Moment with Aaron Rodgers at Minicamp
The Steelers’ minicamp gave us our first look at the new quarterback situation, and for Howard, it was a quick crash course in NFL life. The rookie chatted with Post-Gazette Sports and talked about his time with Rodgers. Let’s just say it was memorable. “I’m not sure what training camp will look like, but during minicamp, I had an empty seat next to me in the team meeting, and suddenly there’s Aaron,” Howard remembered.
What did he find surprising? Rodgers leaned over and asked for more details on plays they hadn’t fully gone over yet. “I was like, ‘Shoot, Aaron Rodgers is asking me questions,'” Howard laughed. “And I’m answering them, thinking, ‘What the heck is going on?’” It was unreal.” Rodgers didn’t stop there-he’s been sharing tips on everything from footwork to film study, making it clear he’s all in on helping the rookie grow.
Howard’s not just some naive rookie, though. His final season at Ohio State was a masterclass: 4,010 passing yards, 42 total touchdowns, and a national title-the Buckeyes’ first in a decade. Scouts took notice, and now, with Rodgers as a mentor, Howard’s got a golden chance to soak up wisdom from a four-time MVP.
The early buzz from minicamp has been good. People are saying good things about Howard. It’s hard to imagine Rodgers not delivering, but if he doesn’t click with the team, Howard could step up. He’s got more to learn, sure, but his college tape shows he’s got what it takes to make a mark in Pittsburgh.
Steelers’ Offseason: Big Moves, Big Questions
The road ahead isn’t all sunshine, though. Pittsburgh has been stuck in playoff purgatory since 2016, when they last won a postseason game before losing to the Patriots in the AFC Championship. Even with Ben Roethlisberger throwing the ball, they couldn’t figure it out after he left.
This offseason, they’ve really gone for it. They traded for Seattle’s DK Metcalf on a four-year, $132 million deal and sent George Pickens to Dallas. But the elephant in the room? T.J. Watt’s contract situation. The star pass rusher is sitting out again, just like in 2021, when he held out until the Steelers caved. If history repeats itself, he’ll get his bag, and Pittsburgh will need all his dominance to survive the brutal AFC North.
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