Steelers' Cam Heyward Backs Will Howard Amid Aaron Rodgers Uncertainty
The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback situation just took another turn, and this time, it came straight from one of the most respected voices in the locker room.
Appearing on “The Rich Eisen Show,” veteran defensive captain Cam Heyward didn't shy away from addressing the team's uncertain future under center. While acknowledging that "everybody wants Aaron back," Heyward made it clear the organization has a viable fallback plan, young quarterback Will Howard.
“Aaron’s been a big fan of Will,” Heyward said. “Obviously everybody wants Aaron back, but if you do go in a direction where you have Will, you feel pretty confident.”
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For months, the Steelers' offseason revolved around one central question: Is Rodgers coming back?
At 42 years old, Rodgers is operating on his own timeline. He has yet to formally commit to the 2026 season, leaving the Steelers in a holding pattern.
Age, the departure of longtime head coach Mike Tomlin and the arrival of Mike McCarthy (Rodgers' former coach in Green Bay), and roster questions are all driving the uncertainty around Rodgers.
With key offensive pieces such as Kenneth Gainwell Calvin Austin III leaving in free agency, two of Rodgers’ favorite weapons, there’s some speculation as to whether the team can remain competitive around him.
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While that uncertainty has by no means gone away, Heyward's comments suggest internal confidence in Howard is growing, aligning with recent reports that Rodgers himself took the young QB under his wing and praised his long-term potential.
However, despite having Howard in the pipeline, multiple reports indicate the Steelers are still exploring quarterback options in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
This creates three potential paths:
- Rodgers returns: Pittsburgh goes all-in for another short-term run.
- Howard takes over: A youth movement begins, with Howard as the bridge.
- Draft a QB: The team hedges further, potentially setting up a competition or long-term rebuild.
In today's NFL, quarterback ambiguity is a risk you can't afford to ignore and the Steelers appear determined not to be caught unprepared.
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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 1:34 PM.