Aaron Rodgers' Advice Paying Major Dividends for Steelers QB Will Howard

The Pittsburgh Steelers know Aaron Rodgers will be their starting quarterback in 2026, but as for who takes his place the following season, that's still up for debate.

Pittsburgh drafted Ohio State alum in the sixth round of the 2025 draft, and for some extra insurance, the team grabbed Penn State's Drew Allar in the third round of this year's draft.

Howard is expected to compete with Mason Rudolph for the QB2 job this season, and he's not taking being around Rodgers during his final season for granted.

During a recent interview with ESPN Radio, Howard revealed that the four-time MVP has been giving him some advice on how to improve - and he's been soaking up every word the future Hall of Famer has given him.

"I think one of the biggest things with him that I've learned, just footwork-wise, is timing is everything," Howard stated. "Shortening down your feet and making sure you're ready to throw the ball before you think you need to be is one of the things that he taught me last year.

"I was making good throws, but he is like, hey, maybe take a hitch out or shorten down your feet a little bit and be a little more on time, a little more anticipatory. I think that's one specific thing. But overall, just the way that he sees the game from the front, back, and the way that he understands the run game and the protections."

Improving his footwork is a big win for Howard. His tendency to get happy feet was one of the knocks against him coming out of college, and may have led to him falling to the sixth round.

Howard didn't play as a rookie, but he showed flashes of upside during his lone year in Columbus. The 24-year-old threw for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while leading the Buckeyes to a national championship.

Howard may not play this season either, but if Rodgers is truly helping him improve his game, it could spell bad news for Allar's chances of winning the starting job next year.

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This story was originally published June 1, 2026 at 7:20 PM.