The Steelers’ sixth draft snatch at 185th position, Will Howard, made his stance clear on how he sees them not just as a team, but as a franchise wired for winning. “I couldn’t be in a better place. The Steelers are built on blue-collar, and that’s how I like to play. That’s how I like to be about.” But it wasn’t an easy run. This guy strived hard to make his presence felt at Ohio State, coming from Kansas. Even Ryan Day didn’t call dibs on him at first, but then Howard’s resilience and hard work made his presence strong on the team. And next we know, Ohio State won the natty. Now, it’s the Steelers’ turn to experience that same thing with him, but wait, not without a heads-up from his lady love course!
Howard guided Kansas State to a Big 12 championship in 2022. Then, he transferred to Ohio State for one final shot and walked off with the natty despite facing a major setback against Michigan. “The things that I went through, and I learned how to push through adversity,” Howard said. “How to come back from bad things. That gave me a pretty hard head. I got a chip on my shoulder, and I like to carry that with me.”
No wonder he is taking forward the same legacy at the Pittsburgh Steelers with his No. 18 jersey number. The best part is? Will Howard’s girlfriend, Skyler Skoglund, put up an IG story of her man standing next to his NFL jersey with a wide smile, and she captions it in the most interesting way possible, saying, “Steelers baby.”
Source: Instagram
Well, this guy deserves all the hype. Instead of relaxing after the draft, Howard immediately contacted Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth, requesting the playbook. As Devin Jackson reported, Arth replied, “[Arth] wrote [Howard] back and said, ‘Hey, we were going to give you the weekend off, but this is why we drafted you, because it’s the kind of worker you are.’” This early initiative impressed everyone.
And let’s not forget that Will Howard’s football intelligence wasn’t just evident privately; it shone publicly. His appearance on Jon Gruden’s QB Class showcased his sharp football mind to fans and coaches alike. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin lauded Howard’s leadership and resilience, stating, “It’s really what NFL football is about,” the HC said. “There’s going to be some adversity. How you respond to it defines you and your football team, particularly from the quarterback position.” Howard’s strong finish to his college season clearly left a lasting mark.
Even Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger loves the team’s sixth-round pick, seeing no risk. On his Footbahlin podcast, he said, “You draft him in the sixth round, it’s like, okay, whatever. If he works out, great. If he doesn’t, he’s a sixth-rounder.” He added, “I like what he’s going to bring. I can’t wait to see him in person. I’d love to get him on this show.” Roethlisberger even offered Will Howard a slice of wisdom: “He needs to understand, and I would tell him this: you don’t have pressure, bud. You’re a sixth-rounder. There’s no pressure.”
Howard already looks like a future QB1. At 6’4″, 235 pounds, he shattered Ohio State’s single-season and career completion percentage records, hitting 71.4% of his passes in 2024. Roethlisberger outlined his approach: “He should come in here with the mindset of this is my job. I want to be the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers for the next 15, 18, 20 years.” If Howard keeps progressing, his chance to start could come sooner than anticipated. But is it really the case?
Will Howard’s fate at Steelers gets a major hit
Look, we all know Pittsburgh’s QB situation is not that ideal, with no clear successor to Ben Roethlisberger’s legacy. Now, all eyes are set on Aaron Rodgers’ next move, but there’s a high chance that they might also throw Carson Wentz into the mix. But the only problem is Wentz’s role with the Kansas City Chiefs while serving as Patrick Mahomes‘ backup saw no moment on the field for nearly three seasons. And the Steelers need an experienced playmaker.
Will Howard can be that explosive key player. But it looks like analysts are not buying that idea. The worst part is, despite all the buzz around Howard, analysts remain skeptical and predict that Pittsburgh might explore new quarterback options in 2026. So, who’s going to be that QB? As per CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso, Sam Leavitt can be that reliable QB. Crazy, right? Trapasso believes Arizona State QB fits in the Steelers team like a glove.
“Leavitt looked the part of the modern-day mobility-based quarterback in his breakout 2024 with the Sun Devils. A former four-star recruit and the No. 18 quarterback in the 2023 quarterback class, Leavitt has first-round skills, and the Steelers need a long-term answer at the quarterback position in the worst way,” Trapasso said. Given Leavitt’s skills and potential, Pittsburgh might view him as their future quarterback.
Arizona State’s Leavitt propelled his team to the College Football Playoff with an impressive season: throwing for 2,885 yards with 24 passing touchdowns, just six interceptions, and five rushing touchdowns. His strong running and improved passing significantly boosted his draft stock before the 2025 season. Continued development could catapult the 20-year-old into the NFL spotlight, making him a prime target for quarterback-hungry teams like the Steelers.
Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation remains uncertain; they lack a guaranteed starter, and even with Aaron Rodgers, it’s only a short-term solution. This makes a first-round quarterback pick in 2026 a strong possibility. Analyst Trapasso noted that, “Selecting Leavitt in Round 1 would be a savvy move by the Steelers if he takes the next step in 2025.” Leavitt’s key role in Arizona State’s turnaround could make him the franchise quarterback Pittsburgh desperately needs. But then, what about all the hype surrounding Will Howard? Well, we’ll know when the season unfolds…
The post Will Howard’s Girlfriend Sends 2-Word Message to Mike Tomlin’s Steelers After Big Reveal appeared first on EssentiallySports.