Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard during a practice on Dec. 17, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
On the latest episode of his The Rush podcast, All-Pro Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby gave Pittsburgh Steelers second-year quarterback Will Howard a ringing endorsement.
“I think Aaron [Rodgers] probably stays another year,” Crosby said. “But, when you have a guy like Will Howard to sit there and learn another year behind Rodgers, and you have [Mike] McCarthy locked in for five years, you let Rodgers get another year, and then you have Will Howard step in after that, sitting for two years, and then let him go and be the guy. Because I know some people have their opinions on Will Howard and this and that. I’m a Will Howard believer. I’m not going to lie, I think he’s a hell of a player.”
New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy has helped tutor a handful of star signal-callers in his career, ranging from Joe Montana to Dak Prescott.
He is chomping at the bit to develop Howard next.
“I’m really excited about Will Howard,”McCarthy said. “I think he’s someone that really came on at Ohio State. I’m anxious to work with him. It would be great to have Aaron back, but Will and Mason, I’m really excited to get started with those guys.”
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard at practice on Oct. 23, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently endorsed Howard to get a shot as the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2026. This was before the McCarthy hire, which it now seems like a return of Aaron Rodgers is more likely.
“If Aaron’s not in the scenario, I would go with Will Howard this year. But what I would do is, I would bring in a veteran quarterback,” Roethlisberger said on his Footbahlin podcast.
Roethlisberger praised Howard’s toughness and blue-collar approach to the game. He thinks Howard’s a perfect fit for the city of Pittsburgh.
“I love his heart, his fire, I think he is Pittsburgh,” Roethlisberger said. “I think he’s tough, he’s gritty, he’s going to get you what you want. Could be completely wrong, but I think you have a guy in there.
“Do I think Will Howard is a top-10 quarterback of all time, like by the time he’s done? Maybe, probably not. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a top-five guy in the league for numerous years. Or top-10 guy. And that guy can get you Super Bowls.”
The Steelers reinstated Howard from the injured reserve list on Nov. 12.
Howard had returned to practice on Oct. 23, meaning the team had to reinstate him from injured reserve this week, or he would be forced to spend the entire season on the IR list.
The team’s sixth-round pick out of Ohio State in the 2025 NFL Draft, Howard suffered a broken right pinky finger in training camp, an injury that forced him to miss the entire preseason. Howard was active for just one game in 2025, the Week 12 game against the Chicago Bears when he served as a backup for Mason Rusdolph. He did not receive any snaps.
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