Steel City Blitz
It’s not often that any of us as fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers take this much time to discuss a position that may never actually see the field. But here we are… With Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph firmly entrenched, the third QB position was the only one left to discuss. It was also going to be a bit “juicy” too with an unheralded QB with little experience set to battle the guy who just led Ohio State to the National Championship. Who gets this position and why is the topic of this “debate.”
We actually have to go back to 2020 in the place known as “The Little Apple.” Manhattan, Kansas is home to Kansas State University where Thompson was a junior when Howard arrived as a Freshman. The younger Howard was featured in the offense far more in that 2020 season than was the elder Thompson.
Will Howard: 90 Cmp, 168 Att, 1178 Yds, 8 TD, 10 INT
Skylar Thompson : 40 Cmp, 64 Att, 626 Yds, 4 TD, 0 INT
Thompson had started the first three games in the Covid season of 2020 before seeing an upper body injury ends his season. His absence gave way to Howard for the rest of the season. Despite finishing the season, Howard was still the backup to Thompson entering 2021. Again however the injury bug (knee) hit him again. Ultimately, Thompson returned for ten games.
Will Howard: 30 Cmp, 55 Att, 332 Yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Skylar Thompson: 162 Cmp, 233 Att, 2103 Yds, 12 TD, 4 INT
With Thompson off to the NFL, Howard appeared in 19 games over his final two season with the Wildcats. He started the team’s Sugar Bowl loss to Alabama that year. 2023 was his final season in Manhattan and he soon left for Ohio State with the team leaning towards Avery Johnson for the QB job. You probably know the rest of the story… After suffering two tough losses to Oregon and Michigan, Howard led the Buckeyes to the National Title.
In the 2025 offseason, the Steelers literally had one QB on their roster. With Aaron Rodgers still in limbo and the Draft yet to happen, the Steelers decided to sign former Miami Dolphin Thompson. At the time, he was seen as nothing more than a “camp arm.” His chances of making the roster were slim at best especially after the Steelers invested a draft pick in his former teammate Howard. So that’s how these two got here. Does each have a viable argument for making this roster?
Fair or not, the Pittsburgh Steelers have always given an advantage to guys they have drafted versus guys that signed as free agents. They aren’t the only team that follows this “rule” either. The problem of course for both Howard and the Steelers is that they’ve seen zero game action of him in the Black and Gold. That busted pinky finger removed any opportunity...
