NFL News: Aaron Rodgers receives indirect warning as Will Howard sends clear message to Mike Tomlin, Steelers

Aaron Rodgers has yet to announce his next move, but he’s reportedly given Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers a big reason to believe he’ll be playing in the Steel City in the 2025 NFL season. Will Howard, however, isn’t worried about it.

The Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback, selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by Pittsburgh, made it clear to Tomlin and team owner Art Rooney II that he’s ready to prove his worth. In the event he joins the Steelers, Rodgers should be aware that he might face competition from a motivated rookie in the QB room.

“It’s not a matter of what happens out on the field or if I play right away, it’s about getting better and it’s about learning,” Howard said, via ESPN. “And whoever is in the room with me, whoever is there competing with us, I just cannot wait to delve into this situation and to really give my all to this team, because that’s how I do things, man. I don’t do things half in, I go all in, and I have every expectation that this next step with the Pittsburgh Steelers is going to be amazing for me.”

Art Rooney II owner warned Howard as Steelers wait for Rodgers

Howard’s comments came after Rooney looked optimistic about landing Rodgers. Before the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers owner suggested that any quarterback they selected would be seen by Tomlin and company as a developmental player.

Will Howard #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates after beating the Texas Longhorns 28-14 to win the Goodyear Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium on January 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas.

“We really did not factor whether Aaron is coming or not into that,” Rooney said. “If we draft a quarterback — and we still might — probably not someone who’s going to start for us this year. It’s going to be somebody that will be developing and may play down the road. It’s not like somebody that’s going to have a big impact on this season.”

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The Steelers’ QB room as of now

Despite entering the NFL coming off a National Championship as the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback, Howard will probably take a back seat in Pittsburgh in his rookie year as a pro. Still, he seems to believe in his ability to fight for a bigger role.

Right now, he’s projected to compete with Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, the only QBs currently under contract with the Steelers. But if Rodgers joins Tomlin’s team, Howard‘s chances of starting will inevitably decrease.