Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard during a practice on Dec. 17, 2025. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
New Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy comes from a background of developing quarterbacks. That was a big reason why the Steelers hired the 62-year-old Greenfield native. They’re hoping he can develop the Steelers’ next franchise quarterback.
It’s uncertain who will be the next young up-and-coming quarterback in Pittsburgh, but he could already be on the roster.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, McCarthy is very intrigued by second-year quarterback Will Howard.
“They do have other options on the roster. Mason Rudolph is still under contract. Will Howard, a late-round draft pick last year of Ohio State that they are really high on in the building. My understanding is Mike McCarthy also is very intrigued by the upside of Will Howard,” Pelissero said in a clip posted by Bridget Condon.
According to former longtime ESPN reporter Ed Werder, one of the elements McCarthy provided the Tennessee Titans and Steelers when he interviewed with them were videos and graphics of his long history of coaching and developing quarterbacks beginning with Joe Montana with the Kansas City Chiefs under Marty Schottenheimer.
Of course, McCarthy is also credited with developing Aaron Rodgers during their time in Green Bay. He also coached Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre at the tail end of his career.
It appears the Steelers are looking at McCarthy as a quarterback whisper. The franchise is in desperate need of a young up-and-coming quarterback.
Werder said a Steelers source told him earlier in the week after McCarthy’s interview that, “He’s been very impressive.”
Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger recently endorsed Howard to get a shot as the Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2026. Aaron Rodgers’ future with the team is up in the air with Mike Tomlin no longer in Pittsburgh, but a reunion with McCarthy could be on the table.
“If Aaron’s not in the scenario, I would go with Will Howard this year. But what I would do is, I would bring in a veteran quarterback,” Roethlisberger said on hisFootbahlin podcast on Tuesday.
Roethlisberger praised Howard’s toughness and blue-collar approach to the game. He thinks Howard’s a perfect fit for the city of Pittsburgh.
“I love his heart, his fire, I think he is Pittsburgh,” Roethlisberger said. “I think he’s tough, he’s gritty, he’s going to get you what you want. Could be completely wrong, but I think you have a guy in there.
“Do I think Will Howard is a top-10 quarterback of all time, like by the time he’s done? Maybe, probably not. But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a top-five guy in the league for numerous years. Or top-10 guy. And that guy can get you Super Bowls.”
The Steelers reinstated Howard from the injured reserve list on Nov. 12.
Howard had returned to practice on Oct. 23, meaning the team had to reinstate him from injured reserve this week, or he would be forced to spend the entire season on the IR list.
The team’s sixth-round pick out of Ohio State in the 2025 NFL Draft, Howard suffered a broken right pinky finger in training camp, an injury that forced him to miss the entire preseason. Howard was active for just one game in 2025, the Week 12 game against the Chicago Bears when he served as a backup for Mason Rusdolph. He did not receive any snaps.
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