The Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for their first playoff win in 10 years under new head coach Mike McCarthy, who the franchise tabbed to replace Mike Tomlin after Tomlin spent 19 seasons in the role.
However, like Tomlin before him, McCarthy is dealing with a major question mark surrounding the quarterback position. McCarthy has made it clear that he would love for Aaron Rodgers, who won the AFC North in his lone season with the franchise, to return to the team, and even that the two have been in regular contact.
McCarthy has also spoken highly of young quarterback Will Howard, whom Pittsburgh selected in the 2025 draft, and who may step into the starting role if Rodgers elects to retire.
“I think he’s definitely a real prospect as a starting quarterback,” McCarthy said of Howard, per The Athletic. “I believed that when he came out.”
“People get caught up on, what round he went in,” he added. “But if I was drafting players that year, he wouldn’t have been around in the fifth or sixth round. I valued him higher than that based off Kansas State, and, man, I thought he jumped out of the TV set during the college playoffs (at Ohio State). … What’s not to like about Will?”
However, as high as McCarthy is on Rodgers and Howard, the Steelers seem keen on keeping thier options, and are moving forward with a top 30 pre-draft with one of the standouts from the 2026 combine, according to Steelersupdate.co.
The Pittsburgh #Steelers plan to bring in Arkansas QB Taylen Green for a Top 30 pre-draft visit, per Bo Marchionte.
Green, 23, measures 6-foot-6, 227 pounds and is currently viewed as a fifth-round pick.
He had a sensational showing at the #NFL Combine, breaking multiple QB… pic.twitter.com/SO4fP4OdDu
— Steelers Update (@SteelersUpdate1) April 2, 2026
With Rodgers’ decision expected to come prior to the draft, it’ll be interesting to see how the franchise pivots around whatever the veteran decies.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.