Aaron Rodgers is preparing for the final season of an NFL career that has spanned more than two decades, but the first signs of a potential succession debate have arrived before the Pittsburgh Steelers have played a meaningful snap.
The 42-year-old remains firmly installed as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback after confirming that 2026 will be his last NFL campaign.
Aaron Rodgers sparks reactions with strange stare while confirming final NFL season
Reunited with Mike McCarthy, the coach who guided him to a Super Bowl title with the Green Bay Packers, Rodgers enters the season with clear expectations, those being to end the Steelers’ long playoff-win drought and mount one final championship challenge.
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes, however, believes the mood at Acrisure Stadium could change if Pittsburgh’s offense struggles during a punishing stretch late in the schedule.
“My prediction is in December, maybe around Thanksgiving, we’re going to hear this in the stands: ‘Howard! Howard! Howard!’” Kimes said during The Bill Barnwell Show.
She pointed specifically to matchups against the Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos and Houston Texans as a run that could expose the offense and test supporters’ patience.
Why Will Howard’s name could grow louder
Howard hasn’t played a regular-season NFL snap, and he’s not the only developmental quarterback on the roster.
Pittsburgh also selected former Penn State passer Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, while veteran Mason Rudolph provides an experienced option behind Rodgers.
When analyst Bill Barnwell asked why she singled out Howard rather than Allar, Kimes said the idea came directly from a recent appearance in Pittsburgh.
“This is based on me doing a live podcast in Pittsburgh, and we surveyed the crowd, and they were all begging for Will Howard,” Kimes said.
That fan interest does not amount to a genuine quarterback competition. Rodgers was brought back to start, and his relationship with McCarthy gives the Steelers every reason to stay committed unless injury or a prolonged collapse forces a change.
Still, young backups often become more attractive when a veteran-led offense begins to stall. Howard’s status as a former national championship-winning quarterback at Ohio State gives supporters something easy to project onto the future.
Rodgers’ farewell will be judged by January
The stakes go beyond whether Rodgers keeps the starting job. Steelers legend Jerome Bettis believes Pittsburgh’s standard leaves little room for sentimental definitions of success.
“A successful season is winning a championship,” Bettis said. “When you play for an organization like the Pittsburgh Steelers, the goal is to win a championship.”
Bettis also called Rodgers “one of the greatest quarterbacks that has ever played the game,” pointing to his four MVP awards and Super Bowl victory.
That legacy is already secure, but the final chapter remains unwritten. A deep playoff run would validate Pittsburgh’s decision to reunite Rodgers and McCarthy. Offensive struggles could instead shift attention toward the quarterbacks waiting behind him.
Howard may never be required in 2026. Yet if the Steelers stumble when the schedule tightens, his name could become an uncomfortable soundtrack to Rodgers’ final season.