Steelers Reveal Surprising Stance On QB Will Howard Starting In 2026

The Pittsburgh Steelers kick off the Mike McCarthy era with the biggest question looming over the team: the quarterback position. The organization is waiting to see what will happen with their 2025 starter, Aaron Rodgers. Last season, Rodgers did a solid job guiding the offense to a 10-7 record and an AFC North title. With Mike Tomlin stepping away from coaching after the 2025 season, McCarthy now faces the puzzle of the Steelers’ QB room, trying to determine who will lead the team in 2026.

McCarthy, of course, knows Rodgers well, having coached him for 13 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. The duo famously won a Super Bowl together. Ironically the two won that Super Bowl by defeating the Steelers in the process. While signs are starting to point toward Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh for one more season in 2026, nothing is certain. Rodgers has always been known for keeping his plans close to the chest, leaving fans and analysts alike speculating about his next move.

Meanwhile, the Steelers’ current quarterback room includes Will Howard and Mason Rudolph. Matthew Berry recently revealed that he heard something surprising regarding Howard, Rodgers, and the overall quarterback situation in Pittsburgh. The comments suggest that the Steelers may have some bold plans for 2026, and the potential role of Howard could become a storyline worth watching closely.

"And this should have been in the QB section, but that was already too long so since we are talking the Steelers, I thought this was interesting," Berry started. "I was told they want Aaron Rodgers to return and be their starter this year, but if for some reason that doesn’t happen, Pittsburgh loves Will Howard."

It has been said repeatedly during the 2026 offseason that McCarthy and the organization love Howard. That’s especially interesting considering he was a sixth-round pick, but the Steelers clearly have faith in his mental makeup and believe he could handle starting if Rodgers were to walk. 

Berry also reported that Pittsburgh would rather start Howard than pay a veteran quarterback with proven elite-level experience, such as Kyler Murray or Geno Smith.

"They would more likely start Howard for the year rather than paying one of the Kyler/Geno batch of guys," Berry said.

The Steelers are clearly entering a new era now that Tomlin has stepped away. How McCarthy will guide this team remains to be seen, but fans got a glimpse of his approach as he began building out the coaching staff. Berry included a disclaimer in his article that he is only sharing what he has heard and that nothing is certain, but the information he revealed about Howard and the Steelers is intriguing.

Steelers Could Make Will Howard Centerpiece Of Future

Howard, of course, was a sixth-round pick and not originally brought in by McCarthy. Yet since taking over, the new head coach appears to be high on him. Whether McCarthy is genuinely sold on Howard’s potential or simply building him up for confidence remains to be determined, but either way, it seems likely that Howard will get opportunities to prove himself. McCarthy has a long history of developing quarterbacks, and the Steelers’ belief in Howard’s mental makeup and ability to handle starting duties is notable.

It is surprising and encouraging to continue hearing how much faith the organization has in Howard. Even in a transition year, McCarthy’s willingness to lean on young talent suggests that Pittsburgh is willing to bet on the quarterback room evolving under his guidance, with Howard as a potential centerpiece.

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