The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off of a loss to the Seattle Seahawks where the team completely fell apart in the fourth quarter. This was a game that Pittsburgh probably should have won, but the team essentially gave the game away late due to a bad defensive performance and a gigantic error on special teams. The fan base has been up in arms ever since the final whistle went off, as critics have been extremely frustrated with the league's highest-paid defense ever since the regular season began. Pittsburgh as a whole has not played up to its potential.
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Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The defense is by far the biggest issue in Pittsburgh, while the running game and offensive line play has also been slightly concerning. The expectations behind the defense were sky-high, and the unit is playing like one of the worst in the league. It has been a concerning trend over the first two games, and it almost feels like the sky is falling in Pittsburgh. Rookie quarterback Will Howard recently joined Cam Heyward on his podcast Not Just Football With Cam Heyward, where the veteran defender asked him what it is like to be in Pittsburgh with the fan base reacting this way to a loss.
"To be honest with you man, it reminds me a lot of the [Ohio State] Buckeye fan base," Howard said. "You know, they expect to win every game and I feel like if you don't have the expectations, what are you doing? There's organizations out there that are okay with losing a couple of games. I know there's only been one season where a team has gone undefeated, but to have that expectation that it is okay to lose, that's not okay here. And I appreciate that. I love that."
The rookie quarterback compared the fan base in Pittsburgh to what he experienced with Ohio State during his final season in college. The Buckeyes have very passionate fans, and Howard made a costly mistake during the 2024 season that lost Ohio State a regular season game against Oregon. He felt the wrath of the fan base, but he was able to bounce back as he led Ohio State to a National Championship.
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Steelers' Will Howard celebrating a big play during a game with the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Howard spent his final season of college football with the Buckeyes, but he spent the majority of his collegiate career at Kansas State. Kansas State has good fans, but the program isn't quite on the same level as Ohio State. This likely gives Howard some perspective, and it shows why he might appreciate the fans in Columbus and Pittsburgh as much as he does. He wants to win just as much as any fan, which gives him a certain level of appreciation for the way fans in Pittsburgh act following a game like what was seen in Week 2.
The rookie quarterback might change his tune once he is actually on the field and playing, which may come within the next couple of years. However, he has fought through a tremendous amount of adversity throughout his football career, which could make him a great quarterback for Pittsburgh.
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Steelers quarterback Will Howard during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers' Will Howard Waiting His Turn To See The Field
Going into the 2025 season, it was known that Howard probably was not going to see the field much, if at all. He suffered an injury during training camp that set his timeline back even further, as he has begun the season on Injured Reserve. He will be eligible to return to practice and other football activities after Pittsburgh's Week 4 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, but he probably won't see the field at all during games. Mason Rudolph will likely hold on to his backup role, and Howard could become the team's emergency third quarterback on game days as Skylar Thompson is currently on IR as well.
What do you think about Howard's perspective on the fans? Let us know in the comments below!
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