Why the Steelers Quarterback Answer May Require Patience, Not a Draft Pick
The Steelers have struggled with quarterback issues since Ben Roethlisberger retired four years ago. The Steelers legend was with the team for his entire NFL career. Under his leadership, the team won Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII. At 42 years old, Aaron Rodgers isn’t a long-term solution. If he leaves or retires, the Steelers will need a new starting quarterback next season.
On a recent episode of his Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger podcast, Roethlisberger shared his opinion on what the Steelers should do if Rodgers leaves. He remarked, “I would not draft a quarterback for at least two to three years. That’s just my opinion.” He added, “The issue that I see with a lot of teams is they get a quarterback, and they try to build around that quarterback. I think it should be the other way around. I think you should build a team and put your quarterback in it.”
The future Hall of Famer offered his advice about who should be the Steelers quarterback if Rodgers retires. He explained, “If Aaron’s not in the scenario, I would go with Will Howard this year. But what I would do is, I would bring in a veteran quarterback that is a league minimum-type quarterback that is a great teammate, a guy that can still help. You can plug and play if you need to.” Roethlisberger spoke about Howard’s personality characteristics. He said, “I love his heart, his fire, I think he is Pittsburgh. I think he’s tough, he’s gritty, he’s going to get you what you want. Could be completely wrong, but I think you have a guy in there.”
Howard is typically overlooked as a candidate for the Steelers’ next starting quarterback. The Steelers chose Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He broke his right pinky finger and was unable to participate in the remainder of training camp or play in any preseason games. The 24-year-old was mentored by Rodgers for the 2025 season. Howard is a National Champion. During the 2024 season, Howard set Ohio State single-season and career completion percentage records by completing 71.4 percent of his passes. He also set an Ohio State record with eight games with at least an 80 percent completion. On January 20th, 2025, he led the Ohio State Buckeyes to a 34-23 victory over the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was named Offensive MVP of the game. Throughout his college football career, Howard amassed 9,994 passing yards with 85 passing touchdowns and 1,147 rushing yards with 26 rushing touchdowns.
Ultimately, the Steelers are at a crossroads where patience may matter just as much as talent. Roethlisberger’s perspective reinforces a long-standing Pittsburgh philosophy: build a tough, complete roster first, then let the quarterback thrive within it. While Aaron Rodgers may offer short-term stability, the long-term future could hinge on whether the organization is willing to develop a player like Howard without rushing the process. With Howard’s championship pedigree, efficiency as a passer, and gritty demeanor, the pieces for a potential transition are already in place. How the Steelers balance veteran leadership with internal development will define the next era of football in Pittsburgh.
