Steelers Rookie Will Howard Reveals Cruel Draft Day Prank That Wouldn't Stop

The Pittsburgh Steelers used their sixth-round pick to select quarterback Will Howard. The Ohio State product comes to the Steel City after playing a pivotal role in helping the Buckeyes win the 2024 National Championship. Despite all of Howard's college success, draft experts did not give him a high grade, pointing to concerns about his consistency and overall upside at the next level.

Still, the Steelers viewed getting Howard in the sixth round as tremendous value. With Russell Wilson and Justin Fields both leaving in free agency, the quarterback room was wide open heading into the draft. Pittsburgh sees Howard as a developmental prospect with the potential to grow into a bigger role, and they were excited to land him without using a premium pick.

After the selection, clips from the Hey Rookie show went viral showing Howard emotionally pleading for the Steelers to take him. In a recent sit-down interview with Missi Matthews on Steelers.com, Howard shared what really happened. He explained that he had always admired the Steelers' toughness, tradition, and coaching staff, and he was hoping all along that Pittsburgh would be the team to give him a shot.

"Right during the sixth round, I stood up and I went to the kitchen and that’s where I got the call," Howard said. "Just seeing that 412 number with Pittsburgh Steelers over the top. I had gotten prank called a couple times, so it was nice to finally get a real one."

Throughout the draft process, several top prospects fell victim to prank calls, a cruel trend that gained traction this year. The most notable case was Shedeur Sanders, who was prank called while live streaming his draft experience, a moment that quickly went viral.

It appears Howard was also targeted by this unfortunate trend, adding an emotional twist to what should have been one of the most exciting nights of his life.

"It was just a relief and a big weight off of my shoulders," Howard said. "All the work coming to fruition. Just an amazing moment and super blessed."

It’s never easy for a sixth-round draft pick to become a starting quarterback in the NFL, and the odds are often stacked against players selected that late. However, few are willing to place a firm ceiling on what Howard can achieve at the next level. 

While most analysts aren’t projecting him to develop into a long-term starter, the general consensus is that if Howard can become a reliable backup, that would already make him a valuable pick. For a team to find a capable No. 2 quarterback in the sixth round is a quiet victory in today’s NFL.

What sets Howard apart is his mindset. He’s been doubted at nearly every stage of his football journey, and that’s only fueled his desire to prove people wrong. He made it clear that he didn’t want the other 31 teams to miss out on him—but they did. 

Now, he arrives in Pittsburgh as a sixth-round pick, but he carries himself with the confidence of a first overall selection. That unwavering belief in himself is something fans and coaches respect. Many Steelers fans are eager to see what the future holds for Howard and whether his underdog story will continue to unfold in the Steel City.

Steelers Still Waiting On Aaron Rodgers

The Steelers' quarterback situation has been in the headlines all offseason and will continue until Aaron Rodgers makes his decision. All signs point toward him being the Steelers’ starting quarterback for the 2025 season, but he still hasn’t made his intentions clear.

The Steelers and their fan base will continue to wait for Rodgers to announce his next move. If Rodgers does come, it will give Howard a great chance to learn under a four-time MVP. If he doesn’t, then Howard will compete with Mason Rudolph for the starting job.

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