Ben Roethlisberger Gives Steelers Fans A Direct Answer About Drafting QB Will Howard

The Pittsburgh Steelers made many fans wait in the draft wondering if they were going to take a shot at quarterback early. Even with one of the top quarterback prospects in Shedeur Sanders falling out of the top rounds, the Steelers didn’t budge. They saw a path to getting a quarterback later than expected and stuck to it. The Steelers addressed key needs early and then lucked into drafting quarterback Will Howard in the sixth round.

Howard arrives in Pittsburgh after an elite 2024 college season, where he led the Ohio State Buckeyes to a dominant National Championship run. Despite his success, Howard didn’t generate the same buzz as other quarterbacks in the draft class—something that has led many to believe he's been overlooked. However, the Steelers saw value where others didn’t.

Leading up to the draft, former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made it clear on his podcast Footbahlin that he was a big fan of Howard. On Tuesday, Roethlisberger gave his honest thoughts about the pick, saying he was thrilled the Steelers took a chance on the quarterback he’d been praising for weeks. Roethlisberger believes Howard has the tools to succeed in the NFL and could prove to be one of the biggest steals of the entire draft, eventually.

"I am really excited about this [Will Howard] pick," Roethlisberger said. "The Hey Rookie call, he jumped in the pool with his family. You could see those tears coming down his face. To me, that just shows his love of the game. Not caring about where you are getting drafted or what round you are getting drafted. I think that's exactly what you want."

Roethlisberger broke down just how much he loved the Howard pick, highlighting the quarterback's passion and presence. He specifically pointed out the emotion Howard showed, praising him for his genuine love of the game. 

To Roethlisberger, that kind of fire is something you can’t teach—and it’s exactly what Pittsburgh should be looking for. He's thrilled with this pick by the Steelers.

"It looks like Will Howard loves the game of football," Roethlisberger said. "Tears down his eyes. I had said on this show that I wanted the Steelers to draft him. I think that he's big, he's physical. I think he's got something that shows me, you know, when he played Oregon earlier in the season... He slid and basically lost them the game. I would love to get him on the show to talk about this... He didn't let it keep him down."

Roethlisberger highlighted one of the lowest moments of Howard’s 2024 college season—when a late-game slide cost his team a chance to win. With the Buckeyes trailing 32-31 and driving to get into field goal range, Howard made the critical mistake of sliding inbounds as the clock wound down. It was a bad decision in a high-pressure moment, and the team ran out of time.

But what stood out to Roethlisberger wasn’t just the mistake—it was how Howard responded afterward. Despite the brutal loss, Roethlisberger was encouraged by Howard’s resilience and poise in the games that followed. He saw a quarterback who didn’t hang his head. 

No matter what had happened on the previous play, Howard was always ready for the next one. He kept leading, kept working. Roethlisberger described him as a culture setter—the kind of guy who’s first in the building and the last to leave. Howard, he said, has the right mindset and work ethic to succeed in the NFL. 

Steelers Are Getting A Very Hungry QB In Will Howard

Howard made it clear to NFL teams not to overlook him. And yet, all 32 teams passed on him through the first five rounds of the draft. Then, in the sixth round, the Steelers finally called his name.

He’s used to being overlooked, and now he steps into a fascinating quarterback room in Pittsburgh. Howard isn't expected to start anytime soon, but many believe his upside is far greater than that of a typical sixth-round pick. Roethlisberger loves the selection—and when a legendary Steelers quarterback endorses a new passer, fans take notice.

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