Former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard has a new NFL home with the Pittsburgh Steelers. For Howard’s family, the black and gold uniform may take some getting used to as the quarterback transitions to the pros.
Howard grew up in West Chester, Pa., but his family’s ties to the Steelers are a bit complicated. Family aside, it is hard to argue with Howard’s fit for Pittsburgh.
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While the Steelers could still sign a veteran quarterback, Howard is currently in prime position to compete against Mason Rudolph for the starting gig. During his first call with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, Howard came clean on his family being Philadelphia Eagles fans.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard gets high fives following his pro day for NFL scouts at the Woody Hayes Athletic Cente on March 26, 2025.Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“All Eagles fans, but now there are gonna be some (expletive) Steelers fans in this world,” Howard told Tomlin with a smile during the draft day call on April 26.
Here is a look at video footage from the call featuring Howard and Tomlin that the NFL released.
The challenge for Howard is the rookie could end up facing more competition in the coming months. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that signing Aaron Rodgers or striking a trade for Kirk Cousins are both viable options for Pittsburgh.
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“So, the Kirk Cousins thing, I was kind of keeping track of and trying to figure like, all right, if he leaves Atlanta, where might he go?” Rapoport remarked on Monday during an interview on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“And I think if your good friend Aaron Rogers does not go to Pittsburgh, I think that would be a possibility. But it feels to me like the other possibilities kind of don’t exist (for Cousins).”
Related: Will Howard in Danger of Being Dealt Concerning Steelers News
