It’s a new era for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In the wake of Mike Tomlin, the 19-year head coach, stepping down from his post, the Steelers have a lot to figure out as they pick up the pieces from this season.

But among the highest priorities heading into 2026 is figuring out who the quarterback will be. Aaron Rodgers, the 42-year-old, future Hall of Famer was always most-likely a one-year mercenary with the Steelers. Sure enough, reporting is now indicating that Rodgers won’t return to Pittsburgh next season.

As for who will take the job next year, a sizable amount of fans are hoping for last year’s sixth-round pick Will Howard to take the reigns and get a chance to show what he can do.

The Ohio State product had a string of unfortunate events this season that have prevented him from getting any real time on a football field.

During a team practice in early August, Howard fractured a bone in his hand, sidelining him for the rest of the summer. His injury eliminated the prospect of playing in any of the team’s three preseason games later that month.

Preseason would have been a prime opportunity for Howard to get some reps on an NFL field. Rodgers, at 41 years old, was not playing any minutes in the preseason. Rudolph, meanwhile, is an established backup in this league. Aside from a few reps to get him warmed up for the season, he would not have required much time on the field.

Even if the bulk of his time was coming against a hodgepodge of depth players and tryouts, that experience would have been valuable for the young kid.

In his absence, Rudolph and free-agent signing Skylar Thompson split time. The latter occupying Howard’s spot as the third-string guy for the opening weeks of the season while Howard started the year on injured reserve.

But he also would have had a second opportunity, had the Steelers not insisted on making the end of their regular season as dramatic as possible.

If the Steelers won in Cleveland in Week 17, they would have clinched the AFC North and made their season finale meaningless in terms of seeding.

Having been locked in the four-spot, the Steelers could have rested several starters, including Rodgers, and opted to give Howard his first NFL start.

A home game, with playoff position already locked up, against an eliminated team would have been the perfect opportunity for the rookie to suit up. A no-pressure game would have allowed Howard to simply go out and play, and given the team a chance to evaluate his talents in real NFL action, not just limited work in practice.

Baltimore would have likely sat some of their defensive starters as well, but it still would have given Howard looks at a real NFL defense.

Although it’s just one game, getting that first start out of the way is super important, and can make or break your positioning on the depth chart in the upcoming year.

Take a guy like Joe Milton, for example. Milton was a sixth round pick from New England in 2024, and spent his rookie season as a third string quarterback behind initial starter Jacoby Brissett and second overall pick Drake Maye.

Maye, who took over for Brissett midway through the season and started the season finale for the Patriots. But he was injured during the first series of New England’s game against Buffalo. Milton, serving as the backup for that game, came in and essentially made the first start of his NFL career.

In his first game as a pro, Milton went 22-of-29 for 241 yards and a touchdown pass. He added 16 rushing yards on ten attempts with a rushing touchdown, but also suffered a fumble that the Bills recovered. New England won the game, 23-16.

It was just one game, having that first “start” under his belt made the football world much more comfortable with employing him and his cannon of an arm as a backup. It was enough for Dallas, who traded for him in the offseason to have him sit behind Dak Prescott.

Milton and Howard are not a one-for-one in terms of strength or scouting reports, but they were both sixth round picks who had some hype, but no clear avenue as a starter anytime soon in the NFL. Milton’s example gives you an idea on how any amount of NFL experience can be a difference-maker for a player heading into year two.

Instead, Howard has nothing but some practice time with the Steelers heading into 2026.

If the Steelers were willing to take a year off and step back, Howard might be the perfect quarterback to deploy. If he performs well, you’ve struck gold in the sixth round and maybe have eliminated a position of need in the long term. If he loses a lot, he sets you up well in the 2027 draft to go out and get the next guy.

But if you listen to the organization and, in particular, Art Rooney II, the goal seems to be competing in 2026.

And if that is in fact the goal, how much can the Steelers and whoever the next head coach is trust him as a legitimate option at quarterback for next year? They don’t have any NFL tape to go off whatsoever.

Whatever happens, Howard is one of most interesting names to watch heading into next season. There’s a lot of possibilities for what year two has in store for him.