Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers had many opportunities to select Shedeur Sanders during the 2025 NFL Draft. However, the team decided not to draft a quarterback until the sixth round, when it picked Will Howard.
Speaking to the media after selecting the Ohio State product, Tomlin made it clear that the Steelers believe in Howard for a very special reason: the way he silenced his critics with the Buckeyes last year.
“I think, like a lot of people, how [Howard] responded to that adversity at the end of [Ohio State’s] regular season, and the leadership, and playmaking that he displayed throughout the playoffs was really attractive,” Tomlin said, via Steeler Nation.
“It’s really what NFL football is about. There’s going to be some adversity. How you respond to it defines you and your football team, particularly from the quarterback position.”
In the days prior to the 2025 NFL Draft, word around the league was that Tomlin was a huge admirer of Sanders. Still, the Stelers ended up passing on the Colorado QB every time they could, eventually using the No. 185 pick on Howard.
Howard’s resurgence with the Buckeyes convinced Steelers
A National Champion with the Buckeyes last season, Howard had to go through a rough patch with Ohio State before leading the program to the promised land. At some point in 2024, a string of bad results put his mental fortitude to the test.
The quarterback had to deal with heavy criticism when the Buckeyes lost “The Game” to lifelong rivals Michigan Wolverines in the 2024 regular season finale. However, Ohio State bounced back in great fashion, making it all the way to the title.
Arthur Smith supports Tomlin’s expectations on Howard
The Steelers seem to have no regrets about overlooking Sanders, with offensive coordinator Arthur Smith echoing Tomlin’s sentiment on Howard, who’s joining a QB room that only counts on Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson so far.
“Obviously, we’re really excited to add Will to our quarterback room. Really impressive resume,” Smith said. “He’s played in a lot of big games and when I got a chance to meet with him and spend some time with him at his Pro Day, just came away even more impressed at the person that Will Howard is. We’re just excited to add to our quarterback room and have an opportunity to work with him.”