Steelers Nation is still reeling from the brutal end — or should I say, the collapse — of the 2025 football season. I don’t believe too many fans had losing to the Texans in the AFC Wild Card game and losing head coach Mike Tomlin on their proverbial bingo card. To the dismay of everyone, unfortunately both of the aforementioned came to fruition.
As an organization, the Steelers front office has moved on, desperately attempting to pick up the pieces of a shattered season filled with a rollercoaster of emotions. There are no other options except to regroup and forge ahead as they attempt to restore the franchise to its glory days.
In relatively quick fashion, adhering to the most pressing order of business, the team selected Mike McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native and NFL veteran sideliner, as its newest head coach. Some NFL insiders believe the Steelers were too quick to pull the trigger on naming a new coach. For what it’s worth, I echo their sentiments.
McCarthy is only the fourth coach since 1969 to lead the black and gold, following in the footsteps of Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin. Noll and Cowher are enshrined in the halls of Canton and Tomlin undoubtedly seems destined to join them someday. All three have at least one Super Bowl ring as well as longevity with the team on the sidelines.
The glowing question on the minds of many is how much longevity will McCarthy – at age 62 — have with the Steelers. The CliffNotes answer to the question would be at least five years, maybe, as that timeframe is the length of his first contract should it play out in its entirety.
Many fans, myself included, were very skeptical of the Steelers’ choice to lead the team in 2026. As things have begun to materialize, I must admit my skepticism has diminished greatly.
McCarthy has begun meticulously assembling his coaching staff with what he has deemed the best available offensive and defensive football minds the coaching profession has to offer. Time will tell, as a change of this magnitude comes with its share of obstacles for any team.
For now, I’ll agree with the Rooney family and Steelers brain trust that McCarthy is indeed the right man for the job.
As the dust continues to settle on the transformation of the Steelers organization, there are a couple of “Wills,” so to speak, as I will be happy to elaborate on in the ensuing paragraphs.
We all suffered through the Aaron Rodgers drama last season from start to finish while we waited on decision after decision. Rodgers was tabbed by many as the franchise savior, the signal-caller we desperately needed. We know how that turned out. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Rodgers was not then nor is he now the answer. If he was, in a scant few days the Steelers would be teeing it up at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, in pursuit of Lombardi No. 7.
With that in mind, allow me to offer the first of my two “Wills” for the 2026 season. “Will” Aaron Rodgers return for one more season as the Steelers signal-caller and should he? My answer is a hard NO. As our loyal readers are well aware, I wasn’t sold on him signing last season and certainly I am not advocating for his re-signing this offseason.
Rodgers will be another year older, slower and less mobile than he was last season. If things should change in the interim and I’m proven wrong, so be it. I’ll apologize in advance should that happen; when all is done and the 2026 season closes, I promise I’ll eat a huge slice of humble pie. Remember, I was correct in my assumption last season.
After last season’s crushing defeat in the AFC Wild Card game, Rodgers refused to talk about retirement. In the postgame presser he stated, “I’m not going to make any emotional decisions. At this point, obviously such a fun year. A lot of adversity, but a lot of fun. Been a great year overall in my life in this last year, and this is a really good part of that, coming here and being part of this team.”
Understandably there is a history between Rodgers and his former coach, as McCarthy played a huge role in the development of his former quarterback. Changing his release on passes was the most notable upgrade in Rodgers’ game as the duo spent 11 seasons in Green Bay, capturing the Super Bowl crown following the 2010 season.
Last season Rodgers amassed 3,322 yards in the air and tossed 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 16 games. McCarthy would love to see Rodgers return for one last NFL fling, stating during his introductory press conference that he would welcome him back for a 23rd season. Responding when asked the question if he would want his former QB back in 2026, McCarthy said, “Definitely, I don’t see why you wouldn’t.”
On the Pat McAfee show, McCarthy said, “I have spoken to Aaron a number of times. Like anybody that has played the game for a long time, it’s important to get away, so that’s the normal process. I think it’s important for all these players to decompress and step away after the season, and that’s really the mindset he’s in.”
Fortunately the Steelers are in a different mindset with Rodgers attempting to avoid last year’s drama of will-he or won’t-he sign with the team. The Steelers have delivered Rodgers an ultimatum. The deadline for a decision to return or not is before the free agency period begins. Stay tuned!
Listen folks, I get it, his ticket is already punched for the train ride straight to Canton, Ohio, and the Hall of Fame when he actually hangs up his cleats and calls it a career. I wholeheartedly agree as he undoubtedly deserves it.
The big caveat of the second of my “Wills” is current backup quarterback Will Howard. The sixth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and former national champion Ohio State Buckeye was praised by McCarthy in his opening press conference. Depending on Rodgers’ decision to play or not, many NFLers in the know give Howard a legitimate shot at starting come September. He has my vote as we have seen plenty of Mason Rudolph the past eight seasons only showing limited flashes of brilliance.
Any way you choose to label it, McCarthy is known for developing quarterbacks and has done an amazing job in doing such. Not only Rodgers from his Green Bay tenure but more recently Dak Prescott, who led the Cowboys to three straight 12-win seasons.
McCarthy is a huge proponent of Howard, advocating for him on numerous occasions. Given McCarthy’s track record for developing raw talent, Howard could be poised under his coach’s expert tutelage to become the next great quarterback of the black and gold. Howard has all the intangibles, smart football mind, strong arm, quick release, light on his feet and play-calling to adapt to different defensive sets.
Howard has a year under his belt studying under two great football minds, Rodgers and Tomlin, which could stack the deck in his favor en route to a starting position. Throw his new head coach into the mix and that may serve as a recipe for becoming a top-notch NFL franchise quarterback.
Many current players have advocated for Howard as well, tossing out momentous praise and accolades, the most recent being the Raiders superstar edge rusher, Maxx Crosby. Recently on his podcast “The Rush,” Crosby said, “Will Howard has all the tools and a host of knowledgeable players and coaches at his ready disposal, which will result in a bright future in Pittsburgh.”
I’ll step out on the proverbial weakened tree limb, once again advocating for Howard to at bare minimum be given a legitimate shot at quarterbacking this team in 2026. I did it last season and will continue to do this offseason. Sorry folks, I wasn’t sold on Rodgers last season and he has done nothing to sway my opinion. Hate to say I told you so, but I told you so numerous times in numerous articles.
Our loyal readers and faithful followers can formulate their own synopsis to these questions: Will Rodgers return for his 23rd NFL season? Is Will Howard destined to become the next Steelers starting quarterback in September of 2026? There you have it, a hefty plate of food for thought.
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