The Pittsburgh Steelers have a major decision to make at the quarterback position for the 2026 season. The Steelers brought in 42-year-old future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers before last season, and got good production from the veteran. Rodgers had a solid campaign by all accounts, throwing for 3,322 yards with 24 touchdowns and just 7 interceptions.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) walks off the field after a brutal loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card Round.
However, at his seasoned age, Rodgers isn't a viable long-term quarterback option for the Steelers, who are now entering a new era after parting ways with long-time head coach Mike Tomlin. With a lackluster free agent pool and NFL Draft class for quarterbacks, the Steelers are left uncertain about their quarterback options for 2026 and beyond.
With the Steelers searching for an answer at the position, enter last year's sixth-round draft pick and former National Champion with the Ohio State Buckeyes, Will Howard. Howard had the privilege of learning from Rodgers for a full year and drawing on his years of experience, unlike other rookies who are expected to start on day one. While Howard is a sixth-round pick, his National Championship experience makes him an intriguing prospect, but not everyone is sold on Howard as a viable option for the Steelers.
NFL analyst Steve Palazzolo gave his take on Howard on 93.7 The Fan.
"He's just not a great overall thrower of the football," Palazzolo admitted. "He's got a pretty good arm, everything's ok. Accuracy I think, is one of the issues. I thought he has backup development type of traits, but that doesn't sound like a hitch to him type of trait."
It's a fair criticism from Palazzolo. After all, Howard was a late-round draft pick for a reason. However, the fun of Will Howard is that no one truly knows what to make of him until he gets a legitimate chance to be the Steelers' starting quarterback. Howard actually led the nation in completion percentage in his last season with Ohio State, but much of that was due to his stacked team that won the National Championship, making Howard's job much easier than it would be in the NFL.
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Steelers QB Will Howard during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The Steelers were spoiled by former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, a future Hall of Famer. He spent his entire career with the Steelers, leading the team to two Super Bowl wins and zero losing seasons under he and Tomlin. The Steelers have been searching for the next heir to the Steelers' quarterback throne since then, and it may very well be Howard, who gets the next crack at it. The upside of Howard is largely up for debate, but the idea of Howard intrigues many Steelers fans about the unknown.
Steelers Left With Limited Options At Quarterback For 2026 Season
If the Steelers go in another direction, it will most likely mean bringing in a veteran quarterback. Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis has received considerable buzz and is sure to command a well-sized contract to be a team's starting quarterback this offseason, but it's a financial commitment the Steelers may not be willing to make for an unproven long-term starter. Another factor to consider is that whoever the Steelers' new head coach is will most likely already have a quarterback in mind heading into this season.
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (12) throws a pass during a regular season game.
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If the Steelers plan to rebuild, which is a possibility, it makes sense to go with a guy like Howard. If Howard struggles, you can bring in a veteran quarterback behind Howard, but Howard struggling would also mean that the Steelers will have their own top draft pick for the first time in more than two decades, which can spark a rebuild.
Who do you want the Steelers' starting quarterback to be next season in 2026? Let us know in the comments below, or on our social media pages!
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