The Pittsburgh Steelers face a pivotal moment as veteran linebacker James Harrison encourages the franchise to consider a long-term plan for the quarterback position. Following Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement in 2021, the team has managed with interim solutions to maintain their successful stretch of winning seasons. Now, with speculation around 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers potentially returning for another campaign, Harrison advocates moving past Rodgers in favor of a younger, future-focused option.
Harrison expressed on his podcast,
“We either ride it out like we either go rise or crash and burn, and whichever process that is, I’m hoping it rises, and we’re able to do what’s necessary to bring back that seventh Lombardi. But if it crashes and burns, that’ll be an opportunity to be able to go get one of those franchise quarterbacks.”
?James Harrison, Former Linebacker
While Rodgers delivered respectable numbers in the 2025 season—amassing 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions—his age makes him an unlikely long-term answer. Harrison suggests that backup quarterback Will Howard, a sixth-round draft choice in 2025, deserves a chance to lead the team moving forward.
On a prior episode of the same podcast, Harrison noted,
“It’s just that, in the process of trying to further the organization, that doesn’t further us. Art [Rooney II] said that [Mike] McCarthy told him that he likes Will Howard. I would rather go and see what Will could do. Even if we crash out, maybe that’s a good thing.”
?James Harrison, Former Linebacker
Will Howard’s Rise as a Potential Franchise Quarterback
Will Howard’s collegiate career shows promise for the Steelers’ future quarterback position. At Kansas State, Howard demonstrated dual-threat capabilities, accumulating 5,786 passing yards with 48 touchdowns and adding nearly 1,000 rushing yards along with 19 touchdowns. After transferring to Ohio State for the 2024 season, he elevated his game even further.
In his role as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, Howard completed 73 percent of his passes, totaling 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He led the Buckeyes to a 14-win season culminating in a College Football Playoff National Championship. These achievements mark him as a standout prospect to potentially become the Steelers’ future QB1.
Mike McCarthy’s Challenge in Shaping the Steelers’ Future
New Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native with a long NFL coaching résumé, must make critical decisions in his inaugural season. Taking over from Mike Tomlin following a 19-year coaching tenure, McCarthy faces high expectations and skeptical observers questioning his fit for the franchise.
The Athletic’s Josh Kendall and Chad Graff assigned the Steelers a 14th-place ranking heading into the upcoming season due to concerns about McCarthy’s hiring. They stated,
“Mike McCarthy is already on the hot seat. Pittsburgh wins the offseason award for Most Uninspired Head Coaching Hire. After hiring three straight young coaches, who each kept the job for at least 15 years, the Steelers brought in a 62-year-old Pittsburgh native who has one playoff win since 2016.”
?Josh Kendall and Chad Graff, The Athletic
McCarthy’s career boasts 174 wins—ranking 13th all-time in the NFL—with eight division titles, a Super Bowl victory, and consistent playoff appearances over 18 seasons. However, his recent playoff record raises questions about his ability to lead the Steelers to success in today’s NFL environment. His choice regarding the starting quarterback could determine whether Pittsburgh’s gamble on experience leads to renewed competitiveness or necessitates a full rebuild that James Harrison has supported.
The Future of the Steelers Quarterback Position Remains Uncertain
The Steelers stand at a crossroads as they weigh the option of relying on veteran Aaron Rodgers for one more season or investing in Will Howard’s talent and leadership for a long-term solution. Mike McCarthy’s decision will be pivotal in shaping the franchise’s path forward after years of short-term fixes following Roethlisberger’s retirement.
James Harrison’s encouragement to embrace risk and pursue a promising future quarterback highlights a readiness within Steelers Nation to move beyond past stars and build toward sustained success. As the team prepares for the 2026 season, fans, experts, and insiders will be closely watching the developments in Pittsburgh’s quarterback room, hopeful for a resurgence of competitiveness and a push toward another Lombardi Trophy.
