Art Rooney II Has Extremely Revealing Comments About Steelers QB Will Howard

The Pittsburgh Steelers have hired their next head coach in Mike McCarthy, and he will have plenty of pressure on himself to figure out how to get the most out of the team's offense. It is widely-known throughout the NFL that a productive quarterback is absolutely necessary to put points on the board and win games. The long-term vision in the Steel City remains a bit of a mystery in that regard, but the hope is that hiring an offensive-minded leader can help pave the way for someone to be the answer for a decade or longer. Right now, it's anyone's guess as to who that may be.

The immediate belief after McCarthy was named the Steelers' choice was that Aaron Rodgers would be returning for another season in Pittsburgh. That theory has since been debunked; although, it wouldn't shock anyone if the two teamed up together for one last ride. If not, the Steelers can elect to draft someone, get aggressive in free agency, or give someone a shot who is already rostered.

Will Howard did not get to play at all in the 2025 preseason due to a broken bone in his hand. That would have been his time to shine and show the organization what he could be capable of. Instead, there is still plenty of mystery surrounding the franchise's sixth-round selection from 2025. He could be a career backup, but no one will know unless he receives a chance.

Team Owner Art Rooney II did an exclusive one-on-one interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac to discuss the hiring of McCarthy. According to Rooney, a lot of the interviews that were held included conversations about the quarterback position. Apparently, a lot of individuals were excited about the chance to work with Howard.

"We had pretty good feedback on Will Howard being somebody that people would like to have an opportunity to work with," Rooney said referring to the team’s sixth-round draft choice in 2025," Dulac reported.

Mason Rudolph was not mentioned at all, so that should tell fans exactly what the decision-makers internally are thinking when it comes to who could be under center in 2026. It's really possible that a top focus will be developing Howard, which is why it may have actually made a lot of sense to choose McCarthy as the next head coach.

"So the discussion really was about, we have a young quarterback on the roster that people like the upside, and whether it's sooner or later, I think people are looking forward to working with them," Dulac wrote as he quoted the Steelers' owner.

Rodgers could still come back for another season, but the end result could be Rudolph getting released so that Howard can work in as the permanent backup. It seems as if the Steelers may truly have a trick of their sleeve.

This adds a new layer of intrigue to the Steelers' head-coaching search. Rooney did not specify if it was just McCarthy who noted a willingness to work with Howard, but it appears as if the young signal-caller could be in line to compete for a starting job, barring the return of Rodgers. Fans have been wanting to see what Howard is made of, and they just might get the chance to very soon.

Steelers May Hold Off On Drafting A Quarterback For Now

The 2027 draft class is expected to be wildly better than the one coming out in 2026. If Rodgers decides not to come back to Pittsburgh, the end result could be the franchise rolling with Howard for the short-term. That could end up being the long play based on how he performs, but if he isn't what McCarthy seems to think he is, the organization will likely be set up to select the position high up in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Do you think the Steelers already have their future at the quarterback position on the roster? Let us know in the comments below!

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