Mike Tomlin Impressed By Steelers Rookie QB: ‘He’s Doing Great’

Ohio State product Will Howard is already getting started on leaving a favorable first impression on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Howard, the lone quarterback selection made by the Steelers in last month’s 2025 NFL Draft, spent four seasons at Kansas State before transferring to join the Buckeyes for 2024. The 23-year-old wasn’t on the radar of many in Pittsburgh, with most attention directed at Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and free agent Aaron Rodgers. But the sixth-round pick (185th overall) hasn’t wasted any time catching Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin’s attention.

When asked what Howard’s shown during the team’s ramp-up phase ahead of OTAs, Tomlin had plenty to say.

“Huddle command, communication, the ability to regurgitate new information,” Tomlin said, per Noah Strackbein of Sports Illustrated. “By new information, I mean information that’s new to them. And so I don’t want to underscore how difficult it is to receive some of the verbiage from a play caller and have to regurgitate it to 10 others that are waiting for it.”

Tomlin added: “He’s doing great. But again, we’re at the very beginning of it. I don’t know that we’re looking at it through that lens in terms of evaluating him. It’s more about getting to know him.”

Howard was the organization’s first quarterback draft selection since Kenny Pickett three years ago. With Ohio State, Howard won a College Football Playoff National Championship by defeating Notre Dame and was named the offensive MVP of the title game. It helped bolster Howard’s experience in pressure-filled situations and drew eyes from the Steelers months before the team began undergoing its offseason. So while many questioned the move, Pittsburgh was thrilled to land Howard.

The Steelers are in an especially tricky situation, considering they’ve received no concrete response from Rodgers, weeks after meeting with the 41-year-old.

Mason Rudolph and Howard are the front office’s only quarterback additions. Pittsburgh allowed Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, members of last season’s team and well-experienced veterans, to walk away in free agency before its options list continued to dwindle over the course of the offseason.

For now, it’s unknown what the plan for Howard will be moving forward, but the first-year quarterback should remain prepared for whenever Tomlin calls upon him before the season.

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