The Pittsburgh Steelers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers have officially signed a one-year contract for him to return for the 2026 season. The whole saga was incredibly frustrating for the fans, but the hope is that him returning and even participating in Organized Team Activities (OTAs) will lead to a much better result than 2025 and be worth the trouble all parties went through to make this happen. There are a ton of questions about how this will work out for the team and quarterback, but we will all find out starting in September.
Sebastian Foltz/ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers quarterbacks Will Howard and Aaron Rodgers getting reps in at Steelers practice.
There is some excitement about having him back. During a post-OTA interview, quarterback Will Howard explained how he felt about Rodgers returning.
"I think everyone had a little feeling, and I had a feeling [Rodgers] was probably going to come back, just knowing the competitor and the person he is," Howard said. "I was excited. I really was because we developed a really special friendship last year. To be able to have another year with him, to learn from him, and for him to continue to pour into Drew [Allar] and also me is just an unbelievable opportunity for me as a young player in this league to learn from one of the legends. He's been doing it for a long time, so I'm excited. I just want to soak up everything I can, take advantage of my opportunities when they're there, and just be the best version of myself every day."
Rodgers and Howard spent all of the 2025 season praising each other, as the four-time MVP was mentoring the former sixth-round pick on a regular basis. Now, the young gun will hopefully be able to play in the preseason, where he can finally show everything he has learned from his sensei. Meanwhile, Rodgers will get another chance to work with both of the developmental pieces and see the fruits of his labor grow.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike McCarthy coaches up rookie quarterback Drew Allar during rookie minicamp in 2026.
As of now, Howard is taking reps at QB2 behind Rodgers and ahead of Mason Rudolph. For now, he seems to have the edge in that quarterback competition, but he still has to take full advantage of this opportunity. The difference between the second- and third-team offense is massive in terms of talent surrounding the passer. Rudolph has seniority, so he could easily win back the primary backup role if the young gun messes up a lot.
The big thing for Howard is that his job is not guaranteed. He and Rudolph are battling for a spot on the 53-man roster while Drew Allar gets plenty of time to learn the system and develop his mechanics. He has to soak up everything he can or else he won’t just be demoted to QB3. He will be hoping someone picks him on the practice squad if he struggles during the offseason program. Time is ticking for him.
Steelers Have One More Chance For Rodgers To Mentor Quarterbacks
Rodgers recently confirmed that 2026 will be his final season no matter what. That means Howard and Allar have one last chance to see how he operates on a daily / weekly basis. For the recent third-round pick, this will be his only season to learn. Once he's gone, they will likely have to compete with another rookie in 2027 for a spot on the depth chart and practice reps. It's time for them to study as much as they possibly can.
Gene J. Puskar / AP Photo
Steelers' Will Howard watches as veteran Aaron Rodgers gets ready to throw the football during a drill in the 2025 season.
There is a very realistic chance that Howard is the Steelers' Week 1 quarterback in 2027. On top of that, he will likely get some live game reps during the regular season in 2026, whether that's due to a blowout or Rodgers suffering another unfortunate injury. A little bit of game experience will be exactly what he needs to truly learn, especially while the 42-year-old is there to mentor him and help him along the way.
What do you think about Howard's take on having Rodgers back? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
#SteelerNation