The Pittsburgh Steelers are staring down a pivotal offseason, and the biggest question hanging over the franchise is the one under center.
Right now, the quarterback room in Pittsburgh is thin - just Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are under contract for 2026. Aaron Rodgers’ future remains a mystery.
Will he return for another run in the black and gold? Or is retirement - or another team - in the cards?
The Steelers are preparing for all scenarios, and a big part of that plan now involves new head coach Mike McCarthy.
Steelers president Art Rooney II recently shed some light on the organization’s thinking, and it's clear McCarthy’s vision for the quarterback position played a big role in his hiring.
“He likes Will Howard, thinks Will has tremendous upside and is looking forward to working with him,” Rooney said. “Obviously feels like Mason can be a contributor.
We'll have to sit down and discuss where Aaron is, if he decides to come back, and whether that all makes sense. I think Mike was very comfortable with the quarterback room and the possibilities with the quarterback room.
In particular, the fact we have a young quarterback on the roster in whom he sees some upside.”
That’s a notable vote of confidence for Howard, a young signal-caller who didn’t see the field during his rookie year. While he’s still unproven, McCarthy clearly sees something worth developing.
And that’s no small thing - McCarthy has built a reputation over the years for working well with quarterbacks, from Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay to Dak Prescott in Dallas. That track record is likely part of what attracted the Steelers to him in the first place.
Rooney didn’t shy away from saying as much.
“I hesitate to say that's No. 1.
I think No. 1 is we want a coach who's going to lead the team to win a championship,” Rooney said. “But maybe high on the list after that is someone who can develop a quarterback.
And since sooner or later we're going to be working with a young quarterback here, I think Mike's ability to develop the next quarterback is something that certainly is important to us.”
So, what does this all mean for the Steelers’ quarterback situation?
Well, it doesn’t guarantee anything for Howard, but it does give him a real shot to earn his place. He’ll have the benefit of a head coach who believes in his potential - and that’s a valuable starting point. But make no mistake: Pittsburgh isn’t handing him the keys just yet.
The reality is, the Steelers need more competition in that room. Rudolph is a known quantity - a steady backup who can hold things down in a pinch, but not someone you build a season around.
Howard is intriguing, but still a complete unknown at the NFL level. And until Rodgers makes a decision, the Steelers are operating in limbo.
If Rodgers doesn’t return, it’s hard to imagine Pittsburgh going into the season without adding a veteran quarterback to the mix. Whether that’s through free agency or a trade, expect the front office to explore every option. This team still has playoff aspirations, and they’re not going to roll the dice on inexperience alone.
Bottom line: the Steelers are entering a transitional phase at quarterback. But with McCarthy now in the building and a young prospect like Howard in the fold, there’s a foundation to build on - even if the final picture is far from complete.