Steelers Now
It’s early May and the Pittsburgh Steelers still don’t have an answer on their quarterback situation for the 2025 season. The franchise continues to wait on Aaron Rodgers decision, which has been dragging along for nearly two months.
The Steelers plan at the game’s most important position has former Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Las Vegas/Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden perplexed.
“They got one quarterback on the roster,” Gruden said on the Pardon My Take podcast prior to the 2025 NFL Draft. “I don’t know what they’re doing. Maybe Aaron Rodgers, like he’s going to solve all their problems. It sounds great. But two years ago, he was out for the year and last year, I think he had his hands on the ball inside the two-minute drill five times and didn’t get it done… he’s not in camp right now. You got to learn the offense, build some camaraderie with your team. I just don’t know what Pittsburgh is doing at quarterback.”
The Steelers passed on the quarterback position with their first four picks, but they selected Ohio State signal-caller Will Howard in the sixth round. Given the circumstances, it appears the Steelers are extremely confident that Rodgers will eventually sign with Pittsburgh.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin understands the angst among the fanbase at the quarterback position, but he confirmed that the team has a solid plan.
“We feel good about our plan at the position. I understand the angst in your community and the community that supports us,” Tomlin told Rich Eisen of NFL Network during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Tomlin said the Steelers had “really productive” talks with Rodgers, but declined to discuss the hypotheticals.
CBS Sports tabbed the Steelers with the worst quarterbacks room in the NFL. With Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson and Will Howard as the current trio, it’s hard to disagree with CBS Sports’ assessment.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers have the worst quarterback room in the entire NFL after completely turning over at the position in each of the last two years,” Garrett Podell of CBS Sports wrote. “Mason Rudolph, a third-round pick of the Steelers in 2018, returns home after a year away with the Tennessee Titans in 2024. He threw nine touchdowns and nine interceptions across eight played last season, which included five starts.
“Skylar Thompson comes to the Steelers after three seasons as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup with the Miami Dolphins. He has one passing touchdowns and three interceptions in 10 games played, including three starts. The rookie in the room is Will Howard, a sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft after helping lead Ohio State to a national championship in his fifth season of college football.”
Podell projects that Will Howard will be the Steelers’ Week 1 starter, unless Rodgers comes to town.
“Head coach Mike Tomlin ends up uninspired by both Rudolph and Thompson, which leads to Howard seizing the job after continuing the growth he showed as a passer as a Buckeye. That is unless Aaron Rodgers[ joins...
