The two most talked about positions in Pittsburgh sports are both vacant as the Steelers reach the middle of January.
2026 has brought the Steelers a ninth year in a row without a playoff win, saw Mike Tomlin step down in front of a tearful locker room, and questions remain as to who will finally be the heir apparent to Ben Roethlisberger.
Big Ben sorted out his ideal plan for the Steelers quarterback room next season on his podcast, Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger.
“I don’t think it hurts to try
and bring Aaron (Rodgers) back if you can. If he wants to,” Roethlisberger said. “For the reason of helping Will Howard grow for another year.”
Roethlisberger said he has no problem with Rodgers returning for another season. If so, Ben would make Howard the backup to earn preseason reps and more snaps to further develop in year two.
A sixth-round pick out of Ohio State in last year’s draft, Howard didn’t see the field in any of the Steelers 18 games and was inactive on game day, serving as the emergency third quarterback.
Roethlisberger sees upside in Howard. Howard guided the Buckeyes to the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, registered a Big Ten leading 73% completion rate in one season in Columbus, and led the conference in passing yards (4010) and touchdown passes (35).
“If Aaron’s not in the scenario, I would go with Will Howard this year,” Roethlisberger said.
Howard broke his pinky on his right hand at the start of training camp and didn’t take part in the remainder of camp or the preseason.
“I would bring in a veteran quarterback, like a league-minimum type quarterback, that is a great teammate, can still help, you can plug and play if you need to,” Roethlisberger said.
Roethlisberger mentioned Kirk Cousins, Marcus Mariota, and Carson Wentz as veterans who fit the mold. He did not mention Mason Rudolph in the grouping as a backup option after returning to the Steelers in 2025.
Who starts at quarterback will largely come down to who the Steelers hire as their next head coach, only the fourth in 57 years.
Six job openings remain, including the Steelers, plus desirable destinations in Baltimore and Buffalo.
