“By now, Will Howard should be accustomed to learning a new playbook,” Gerry Dulac of The Pittsburgh Gazette wrote. “After all, Mike McCarthy’s offense is his fourth in four years. He feels Howard is ‘wired’ for the task.”

While many may see a lack of consistency and regularity as a potential drawback, the truth is that Howard has shown adaptability over the past few years, adjusting to whatever situation he has faced, even learning his coordinators’ systems from scratch.

Howard’s recent experiences

Over the last four years, quarterback Will Howard has faced the massive challenge of learning four entirely different consecutive playbooks. His journey began in 2023 with the Kansas State Wildcats, mastering a gritty, run-heavy spread option system.

By 2024, he transferred to Ohio State, adapting to a high-octane, star-studded offense that culminated in a CFP National Championship with the Buckeyes. Upon entering the NFL in 2025, Howard had to absorb Mike Tomlin‘s established, defensive-minded Pittsburgh Steelers system as a rookie.

Now, in 2026, he is forced to adapt yet again as Mike McCarthy takes the reins in Pittsburgh, requiring Howard to quickly command a brand new West Coast-hybrid offensive playbook.

The perfect mentor in Pittsburgh

For young quarterback Will Howard, having Aaron Rodgers as a teammate in Pittsburgh represents the ultimate masterclass in NFL preparation. As Rodgers officially commands his final season in 2026, Howard finds himself in the enviable position of learning directly from a four-time MVP and master of the position.

This two-year window alongside A-Rod provides Howard with invaluable daily exposure to Rodgers’ elite pre-snap processing, footwork, and veteran leadership. With the franchise likely turning to Howard as their future quarterback, this ideal mentorship setup ensures that when Rodgers finally steps away after the 2026 season, the Steelers’ next-in-line will be fully prepared to inherit the throne.

According to Bleacher Report’s Khristopher Knox, the Steelers should prioritize adding a proven veteran like Diggs to ensure their postseason ambitions are met. “If Pittsburgh hopes to make Rodgers’ last ride a memorable one, it should add a little more to its receiving corps. DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. should make a solid receiver duo,” Knox wrote in his recent analysis.

Knox further emphasized that while the top of the depth chart looks strong, the secondary options raise significant questions for an NFL contender. “However, rookies Germie Bernard and Kaden Wetjen are unproven, and Pittsburgh’s overall receiver depth is lacking. Adding a vet like [DeAndre] Hopkins or Stefon Diggs would help give the Steelers a playoff-caliber offense,” the report concluded.

Are Diggs and Hopkins the right options for Rodgers?

DeAndre Hopkins brings a massive amount of experience to the table, entering 2026 with 13 seasons under his belt and coming off a 2025 campaign where he recorded 22 receptions for 330 yards and two touchdowns in a limited role. Despite his age, his elite catch radius and ability to win 50-50 balls would provide Rodgers with a reliable safety net that rookie targets simply cannot replicate.

Diggs remains a high-level producer, having just surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the seventh time in eight years during a productive 2025 season with the Patriots. Finishing last year with 85 receptions for 1,013 yards and four touchdowns, Diggs proved he still possesses the elite route-running and separation skills.

Choosing a veteran like Diggs or Hopkins would likely accelerate the Steelers’ offensive chemistry, as both players have spent over a decade deciphering NFL defenses. Their veteran savvy would allow them to read Rodgers’ subtle pre-snap adjustments immediately, creating a lethal partnership that could turn Pittsburgh into a legitimate Super Bowl threat.

Jones have been dealing with a neck injury, and while he has done individual work in OTAs, he’s not cleared to resume team drills. Speaking on his status with Chris Harlan of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Jones said, “I don’t really have a timeline. They didn’t really give me a timeline. They’re just monitoring it day by day, and we go from there.”

Jones has started 38 games in 45 games played for the Steelers. As he said it himself though, “I’m coming off a neck injury. Nobody knows what the future holds for me. Of course, they have to do what they do to protect themselves at the end of the day. I don’t have any ill will or anything toward them.”

Steelers drafted Max Iheanachor in case that Jones is not fit

The Steelers drafted the tackle Max Iheanachor in case Jones can’t play. If both can play, then it’s the best-case scenario for the team. Still, Jones is eager to help, “I’m down to help Max wherever he needs me. Because at the end of the day, all of us got to be ready.”

Iheanachor was the 21st pick in the NFL Draft, and he is poised to start at left tackle if Jones is not fit to go. However, he can also play at right tackle. Hence, Aaron Rodgers could be very well protected if both are fit.

The Steelers need a good offensive line to impose their will

Having Aaron Rodgers, even at this age, opens up a plethora of opportunities for the Steelers. If they can establish the run, Rodgers can cook in play-action, if they buy time for Rodgers, he can zing it downfield.

However, to make all of those things, the team needs a good offensive line to make it all possible. If there’s no O-line, the Steelers season could go down the drain really fast.

Speaking to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Rudolph said, “We’re trying to win now. You don’t bring back Aaron Rodgers if you don’t want to win now.” The message is clear, the Steelers feel capable to win it all this year.

While Rudolph has to fight for a spot on the roster against Drew Allar and Will Howard, Aaron Rodgers is clearly the starter. However, Rodgers confirmed 2026 will be his last NFL season before retiring.

Rudolph also hinted that he will be on the final roster

It’s been hinted by Mike McCarthy that the four quarterbacks could make the cut in the final 53-man roster. However, he also admitted he’s been communicated that he will have less reps, as Rodgers needs to get ready for his final season, and the Steelers want to develop Allar and Howard.

“I’m here to learn my offense,” Rudolph said. “My plans are to be here and to be on this team and to help in whatever fashion I can — and will.” Rudolph has been his whole career in Pittsburgh, barring a lone season in Tennessee.

Rudolph’s numbers with the Steelers

Excluding his time on the Titans, Rudolph has played 26 games across six seasons for the Steelers. During that time, he has 3,395 yards for 21 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions on 64.6% completion. He has a passer rating of 86.8 with the Steelers.

“We’ve definitely got four that we love, I can say that,” the head coach said to the press. “You always have to develop the room. That’s always been the approach. We’re hoping that (general manager) Omar (Khan) can get the roster expanded to 55 and we can keep four. It’s a really good room. This is a good place to be, having four guys that can play.”

Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph represent the veteran presence. Will Howard and Drew Allar might be the future. It is no coincidence that all four are together this season: Steel City is going all in with A-Rod while also keeping their eyes on what could happen beyond 2027.

Mike McCarthy wants to develop the youngest talent

Aaron Rodgers’ return somehow benefits Will Howard as well as Drew Allar. With Mason Rudolph also on the roster, Mike McCarthy aims to fully develop and maximize the talent of his two young players at the position.

“Mason has a lot of experience,” the Steelers head coach said. “We’re trying to develop Will and Drew as well as we can. Will is ahead of Drew, just based on the fact that he’s been here.” Howard enters his second year in the NFL after not playing a single snap during his rookie season. Drew Allar, meanwhile, is taking his first steps in the league and will need to absorb as much information as possible to get up to speed.

Steelers have a HC who knows how to work with quarterbacks

Throughout his coaching career, Mike McCarthy has built a stellar reputation as a true quarterback guru with a proven track record of maximizing passing talent. This pedigree was solidified during his defining tenure with the Green Bay Packers, where he took over a young, raw Aaron Rodgers and meticulously developed him into a mechanical masterpiece and a future four-time MVP.

McCarthy’s quarterback-friendly system and strict developmental protocols have consistently elevated signal-callers, helping them master pre-snap reads, refine their footwork, and play with high-level efficiency. It is exactly this history of elite mentorship that makes his current role so intriguing as he looks to work his magic once again on a new generation of quarterbacks.

Pittsburgh already looking ahead to the 2026 season

Returning to another Super Bowl is the number one ambition in Steel City. These will be the first matchups of the upcoming season that they will have to face:

• Week 1, vs Atlanta Falcons
• Week 2, at New England Patriots
• Week 3, vs Cincinnati Bengals
• Week 4, at Cleveland Browns
• Week 5, vs Indianapolis Colts

“I was excited, I really was, because we really developed a special friendship, I felt like, last year. To be able to have another year with him and to learn from him, for him to continue to pour into Drew [Allar] and also me, is just an unbelievable opportunity for me as a young player in this league to learn from one of the legends that’s been doing it for a long time,” Howard said to the press.

“So, I’m excited. I just want to soak up everything I can. Take advantage of my opportunities when they’re there and just be the best version of myself every day.”

Will Howard’s rookie season was entirely a developmental year, as Aaron Rodgers managed to play every regular-season and playoff game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. It will now be time for Howard to make the most of the opportunity, with the possibility of becoming the new leader of Steel City in 2027.

Who will take the reins in Pittsburgh next season?

Aaron Rodgers will have his last dance in 2026, making this his final chance to win another Super Bowl ring. While many are enjoying the opportunity to have him for this season, others are already looking a little further ahead: who will be the starting quarterback in 2027?

It is clear that the recent selections of Will Howard and Drew Allar in the last two drafts are a strong indication of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ search for a future franchise quarterback. The development of both players under the wing of Rodgers, combined with Mason Rudolph’s experience on the depth chart, could be extremely beneficial for Mike McCarthy and his staff.

Opportunities to learn from Rodgers

The masterclass kicks off right now on the field with OTAs (running in blocks from May 18–21, May 26–29, and June 8–12), where Howard and Allar can study how Rodgers commands the huddle, messes with defenses during 7-on-7 drills, and uses his legendary hard count.

Then things pick up with Mandatory Minicamp (June 2–4), a high-intensity stretch under Mike McCarthy that will really test their mental speed. Finally, the real grind happens at Training Camp starting in late July. That’s where the young QBs can watch firsthand how a four-time MVP breaks down film, reads complex coverages, and prepares his mind and body for his 22nd and final NFL season.

Retirement is still close, though—just a little ways out and rising on the horizon. Rodgers confirmed 2026 will be his last NFL season, meaning he will retire younger than Tom Brady did. Still, he is excited for the upcoming campaign alongside McCarthy, with whom he won a Super Bowl—his lone Vince Lombardi Trophy—in 2011. In fact, if it had not been for the head coach, Rodgers may have called it a career this offseason.

“I thought that was probably it for me in Pittsburgh. But when the decision was made to hire Mike, I started opening my mind back up to coming back,” Rodgers stated, via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor.

Unfinished business for Rodgers

Had Rodgers closed out his chapter with the Steelers after the 2025 NFL season, a dull feeling would have lingered over his one-year stint in the Three Rivers. The future Hall of Famer and Tomlin‘s offense looked herky-jerky all season long.

To make matters worse, their final act is still giving fans in The Burgh nightmares. A whopping 30-6 home loss to the Houston Texans in the Wild Card round extended Pittsburgh’s postseason winless drought to nine straight years. The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since the 2016 season. Not even Rodgers could wash that sour taste out of fans’ mouths.

Still, he’s ready to give it another shot in 2026. Perhaps, a decade later, the curse will finally be lifted. Rodgers has plenty to prove as well. His last postseason victory came during the 2020 season, and he’s gone 0-3 in the playoffs since then.

Rodgers and McCarthy reunite

With Mike McCarthy calling the shots, Rodgers may be in for a trip down memory lane—a return to the glory days. If the longtime coach-quarterback duo still has some magic left, the Steelers may have reason to believe.

If there’s one coach capable of getting the best out of “A-Rod,” it’s McCarthy. He served as Rodgers’ head coach in Green Bay for 13 seasons from 2006 to 2018. During that span, Rodgers won a Super Bowl and captured two NFL MVP awards. If he plays to even a fraction of that level in 2026, Pittsburgh could be in for a magical year.

A few days ago, Aaron Rodgers reached an agreement to return to the Steelers for the 2026 season. After a long wait, the quarterback decided to make one final run and chase his second Super Bowl title in Pittsburgh.

However, there is no chance of a return in 2027. “Yes, this is it,” the quarterback answered when asked if 2026 would be his last year in the NFL, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. He also admitted the arrival of Mike McCarthy was key for his return.

Aaron Rodgers will retire at a younger age than Tom Brady

In recent years, comparisons between Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady have been one of the most common debates among football fans. While their trophy cabinets are vastly different, both quarterbacks have brought massive changes to the league since their arrival.

In 2023, Tom Brady announced his retirement from football at 45 years old. If Aaron Rodgers lives up to his word and retires after the 2026 season, he will be 43 years old at the time, retiring two years younger than Brady.

Rodgers’ accolades are impressive. He is a 10-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro, four-time NFL MVP, and a Super Bowl XLV champion, a game in which he was also recognized as the Most Valuable Player. For many, he is an undeniable first-ballot Hall of Famer when the time comes

The future of the Steelers is intriguing

According to reports, the Steelers have already designed a succession plan at quarterback for when Rodgers retires. The club has struggled to find stability at the position since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, mostly relying on veteran signal-callers to lead the offense.

If the 2027 NFL Draft class presents an attractive target for the franchise, the Steelers may be interested in trading up as much as possible to secure an elite quarterback prospect, hoping to find the long-awaited successor to Big Ben.

“Last year, Will Howard copied a lot from Aaron Rodgers, such as his snap cadence. This year? It looks like the Ohio State product — and today’s Steelers QB2 — is adopting his Mario Mushroom celebration,” the insider Brendan Howe revealed con X.

The presence of Rodgers at the Steelers facilities carries significant weight. In fact, he continues to amaze his own teammates, as Chris Boswell reflected in a conversation with the media: “It can only be good.”

Will Howard is entering his second year in the NFL, and now the recently drafted Drew Allar has also joined this quarterback room. Both players have plenty to learn from A-Rod in what could potentially be his final season as a professional player.

Experience and youth as backups for Aaron Rodgers

With Aaron Rodgers officially back for the 2026 season, the battle for the backup spots in Pittsburgh is underway. Veteran Mason Rudolph brings proven NFL experience, while the youth movement features Will Howard (a 2025 sixth-round pick) and rookie Drew Allar (a 2026 third-round selection).

As OTAs already begun this week, Will Howard has surprisingly emerged as the projected QB2, taking reps directly behind Rodgers. This leaves Rudolph relegated to QB3 and highly vulnerable to being traded or released before the regular season, as the franchise shifts its focus toward developing its two young signal-callers.

Steelers, McCarthy are already preparing for what’s ahead

Following the recent schedule release, head coach Mike McCarthy and the Pittsburgh Steelers face an immediate test to open the 2026 NFL regular season. The team kicks off the campaign at Acrisure Stadium in Week 1 (Sept. 13) against a hungry Atlanta Falcons squad, marking a rare home opener for the franchise.

The Black and Gold will then hit the road in Week 2 (Sept. 20) for a tough conference battle at Gillette Stadium against the New England Patriots. Finally, McCarthy gets his first taste of intense divisional rivalry in Week 3 (Sept. 27), when the Steelers return home to host the Cincinnati Bengals in a crucial, early-season AFC North showdown.

Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN, Rodgers arrived to the Steelers facility before 7:00 am, left with a team’s staffer and returned 45 minutes later. The curious aspect of this is that the Steelers practice is scheduled to take place at 11:00 am.

Hence, Rodgers, who has skipped voluntary workouts for huge chunks of his career, is willing and ready to roll after his long, dramatic, saga about his contract renewal with the Steelers was over.

Rodgers’ deal is a very lucrative one

The Steelers gave Rodgers a $25 million deal for just one year. The base salary is reportedly between $22 and $23 million, which makes it almost 100% guaranteed. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Rodgers just signed his deal, making all reports official.

Rodgers had 3,322 yards on 65.7% completion for 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions last year. He guided the team to a 10-6 record in the games he played, though he couldn’t get the Steelers over the Wild Card round hump.

This version of Steelers could actually help Rodgers

Last season, Rodgers was playing under defensive-minded head coach Mike Tomlin, and lackluster offensive coordinator Arthur Smith. Now, he will reunite with Mike McCarthy, with whom he had the best years of his career.

McCarthy is an offensive-minded coach, with chemistry with Rodgers, and also the Steelers brought in a couple of more weapons like Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie Germie Bernard. The offense should look much better this year.

The update finally brings clarity to one of the biggest questions of the offseason. “Aaron Rodgers is expected to practice Monday when OTAs begin and through the rest of the spring. He’s in.”

Rodgers spent months evaluating his future before ultimately agreeing to sign with Pittsburgh for the 2026 season, reuniting with head coach Mike McCarthy for what could become the final chapter of his legendary career.

Aaron Rodgers now focused on final Super Bowl push with Steelers

Now, all of that uncertainty appears to be completely behind both sides. Aaron Rodgers is expected to fully participate in offseason activities and begin building chemistry with his teammates immediately as the Steelers prepare for a massive 2026 campaign.

At 42 years old and entering what many believe will be his “last dance,” Rodgers now appears fully committed to helping Pittsburgh compete for a Super Bowl. That final chapter begins on Monday.

The timing is especially interesting because just last week there were strong rumors about Rodgers potentially visiting the Steelers facility. Although the quarterback was reportedly in the city, the anticipated meeting never officially happened, creating even more speculation about whether the deal could fall apart. Now, the deal seems to be done.