When Ben Roethlisberger talks, Steelers fans listen. When he solicits his approval on a quarterback draft pick, we should listen. That happened recently on his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, where the future Hall of Famer praised sixth-round selection Ohio State quarterback Will Howard.
“Even the fact of going with the guy that I thought, which I'm glad they got him late in the sixth round, whatever it was, was Will Howard, the quarterback,” Roethlisberger recalled during his show.
You could hear the genuine satisfaction in his voice. For someone who helped define an era in Pittsburgh, Big Ben’s endorsement means a lot.
General Manager Omar Khan worked the draft board with surgical patience throughout the three-day event. While other teams scrambled for big-name talent early, Khan played the long game. His quiet move to grab Howard at No. 185 overall did not generate immediate headlines.
Things are beginning to change.
Roethlisberger’s intrigue is rooted in more than just draft value. It's personal.
“Yeah, physical big strong quarterback,” he said. “They've been calling him Ben 2.0.” That is no small comparison, especially coming from the original.
Ben Roethlisberger agrees with the Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 Draft approach
Ben Roethlisberger is not tossing out blind optimism. He was quick to acknowledge that Howard isn’t a plug-and-play guy. Big Ben alluded to the fact that Howard has got to develop, but added that he’s excited to see how the young QB grows. That sense of mentorship—even from afar—might be what Howard needs.
Howard, who spent most of his college career at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State, has the tools: size, arm strength, and poise. Now, he has a golden opportunity in Pittsburgh—potentially learning behind not just Mason Rudolph but even Aaron Rodgers, should the rumors become reality.
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“I think that you have a guy in Mason, and I think they're still waiting on Aaron,” Roethlisberger said, alluding to the buzz surrounding Rodgers possibly joining the Steelers in 2025. While nothing is official, the possibility hangs like a deep pass.
Roethlisberger appears content with the direction of the quarterback room. It’s not finished, he emphasized, but it’s trending. From a guy who knows what it takes to win in Pittsburgh, that should give fans every reason to be optimistic.
Howard may not be Big Ben just yet—but with that kind of support, he’s off to a pretty good start.