The Pat McAfee Show hosted Aaron Rodgers on Tuesday to cover a wide array of topics. Rodgers' time with the Pittsburgh Steelers has just begun, but his appearance expressed different storylines about the team. All signs point to positive outcomes during the early portion of Rodgers' being in Pittsburgh. His time with his fellow quarterbacks on the roster has been terrific.
Mike Tomlin loves it when veteran players tutor fellow teammates, and Rodgers has routinely done that throughout his career. He has his sights set on helping rookie quarterback Will Howard. The former Ohio State Buckeye was the sixth-round pick of the Steelers this past spring, and the addition of Rodgers should help his mental game grow. Rodgers expressed to Howard that he is the sole focus.
"I wanna help [Will Howard] as much as possible. If I can help him become a better player, that would be an incredible achievement. He’s such a good kid, and I’m really looking forward to helping him out this season."
It's rare to witness a late-round quarterback turn into a franchise-level gunslinger, but Howard has the pedigree required to achieve that.
Rodgers is willing to work with the young player to hopefully provide a long-term plan for the position after this season. It would be shocking to see Pittsburgh stick with Howard as a starting option, but the veteran quarterback will do his best to sway their opinions.
"I'd love to set him up to be the guy for who knows how long. I guess that's part of the opportunity to help Will [Howard] out is one I am looking forward to," Rodgers explained.
Aaron Rodgers wants Pittsburgh Steelers to have Will Howard as next quarterback
All signs continue to point to the 2026 NFL Draft being the top choice for Pittsburgh to locate its next "franchise" quarterback. They appear ready to take a big swing at the event, which will be in Pittsburgh. Rodgers wants to set Howard up to become the next QB of the Steelers, but there are no guarantees.
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Ideally, it would be spectacular for Pittsburgh to witness Rodgers have a strong campaign and hand the torch to Howard following the season. That is unlikely to occur, as Howard will become the third-string quarterback behind Rodgers and Mason Rudolph this year. The chances of him seeing any game time are low.
Pittsburgh won't know what they have with Howard after this season unless injuries start to happen.
The 2026 NFL Draft is full of possible franchise-level quarterbacks. The Steelers could have significant interest in several prospects like the headliners of the class: Drew Allar, Cade Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier, LaNorris Sellers, and many more. Sticking with Howard seems unlikely, no matter how much Rodgers prepares the rookie signal caller.
Despite Rodgers' best wishes, expect the Steelers to remain intrigued by the 2026 NFL Draft crop of quarterback prospects. While Howard might get a shot at competing for a starting job with Rodgers's approval, it's hard to imagine a pathway for Howard to become a long-term solution at the most vital position in football. It's a nice thought, but it's unrealistic for Pittsburgh to believe.