Steelers' Will Howard Reveals Secret Lessons From Aaron Rodgers: "Computer B**ch"

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted quarterback Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. This was before it became known that 41-year-old quarterback Aaron Rodgers would be joining the Steelers as their new starter. At the time, Howard and Mason Rudolph were the two quarterbacks most commonly discussed, and then Rodgers arrived in Pittsburgh, which immediately shifted the entire dynamic. Rodgers quickly made it clear that he had serious plans to mentor and teach the rookie, and Howard has been almost mind-blown by the chance to learn from a four-time NFL MVP during his first professional season.

One of Howard’s strongest advocates has been former NFL Super Bowl-winning Head Coach Jon Gruden. While Gruden now spends his time with Barstool Sports spreading his love for the game, he still knows exactly what makes certain players special. His enthusiasm for Howard has gone far beyond simple praise. Gruden has repeatedly highlighted Howard’s intelligence, work ethic, and raw talent, describing him as one of the most intriguing young quarterbacks he has evaluated in years.

Gruden recently spent time with Howard in Pittsburgh ahead of the Pitt Panthers versus Notre Dame matchup on Saturday, giving him a chance to speak with the rookie face to face once more. During their conversation, Howard shared some of the secret teachings and detailed quarterbacking tricks that Rodgers has already begun passing down to him. 

"Smartest dude I've ever been around. It's unbelievable," Howard told Gruden. "His thing is to start from the front and then the back. He learned football from the front-back and like everything he says, is starting from the front. The front dictates everything from the backend."

For a rookie drafted in the sixth round, having Rodgers as a personal mentor and earning the admiration of a coach like Gruden has only fueled the growing belief inside Pittsburgh that Howard could become much more than just a developmental project.

Howard won a national championship in the 2024 college football season while playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes, but that does not mean he has any ego when it comes to learning from the bottom of the totem pole.

"It's so good just to see him operate," Howard told Gruden. "Like we have meetings every Thursday where it's just the offense, just the players and Aaron. I'm kind of the computer b**ch. I run the computer while he's doing it, and then just watching him coach. He is a coach at this point."

Steelers Fans Have Faith In Will Howard

No one truly knows what the future of the quarterback position will be in the Steel City. However, many Steelers fans have faith in Howard despite his draft status. 

Howard says all the right things, does all the right things, and believes he is good enough to make it. He is determined to do everything in his power to learn and develop in this league, and Steelers fans have confidence in his ability to do just that, even with the odds stacked against him.

Why do you think Will Howard has generated so much excitement among the Steelers fan base even though he fell to the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and what specific factors make fans believe he could still become a valuable contributor for Pittsburgh despite his surprisingly late selection?

Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me. I will respond!

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