Over the weekend, Pittsburgh Steelers fans finally got their answer. The team, of course, agreed to a one-year contract with Aaron Rodgers to come back and be their starting quarterback for the coming season.
Most of us likely reacted similarly: "It took long enough," "It's about time," etc. But, while we can reasonably jump to those types of sentiments, there was apparently a hidden reason behind Rodgers taking his time.
No, it wasn't exactly about Rodgers taking his sweet time, like many of us would have justifiably thought. But, as Sports Illustrated's NFL insider Albert Breer pointed out, it was about someone other than Rodgers:
"Part of the deal in Aaron Rodgers staying away until the start of OTAs was giving Mike McCarthy more time to work with and see what he had in Will Howard. Hard to say what he'll become, but the Steelers coach seems to see something in him."
Let's try and take all personal bias and opinion out of it, for a moment. This does make some sense.
Reason behind Aaron Rodgers' waiting period was on full display at Pittsburgh Steelers OTAs
As the Steelers began OTAs, Rodgers was obviously QB1. But, after Rodgers, it was Will Howard who took second-team reps.
For months, now, we have heard a lot about head coach Mike McCarthy and his affinity for 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard. At first, it seemed a lot like simple coach speak and that McCarthy had to say those things out of necessity.
For a bit, we didn't know for sure if Rodgers was going to return. So, with Howard being the only logical semblance of a long-term quarterback on the roster, of course, McCarthy would have to appear positive about his future.
But now that Rodgers has signed and we heard a little more on the length and timing of the decision, it does make more sense.
Again, it's easy to jump to conclusions and assume Rodgers was just doing Rodgers things.
But McCarthy does genuinely like Howard. After all, Howard came from an Ohio State program that won the National Championship and is one of those high-character players. He is a hard guy not to like, in general. For McCarthy, who is known for getting the most out of whatever quarterbacks he has at his disposal, Howard always had the makings of being his type.
At this point, Steelers fans have to be hoping for Howard to continue his ascension. Howard isn't going to unseat Rodgers by any means, but if he can continue to develop, then maybe, just maybe, the Steelers do have themselves a future at the position.
If he doesn't pan out, then the Steelers won't have any reason to be upset for as though they wasted assets. For a sixth rounder to become a franchise quarterback would be a phenomenal story. If he's simply a backup and the Steelers have to pivot after Rodgers retires, then so be it.
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