Aaron Rodgers gives first impressions of Steelers rookie Will Howard, addresses relationship

Brett Favre never saw it as his responsibility to mentor Aaron Rodgers. To be fair to Favre, it wasn’t in his job title. But now 20 years later, Rodgers is the veteran quarterback. Will Howard is the rookie signal caller.

To be fair, the situation is a bit different. Howard isn’t the first-round pick coming in to soon take Rodgers’ job. Howard was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ sixth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, while Rodgers was just signed last Friday. Rodgers, speaking to the Pittsburgh media on Tuesday, said he hopes to help out Howard “as much as I can.”

“Will is a good kid,” Rodgers said. “We’ve gotten to talk a little bit. I thought he did really well today. You know, he seems pretty bright, not too big for him, going through the progressions really well. But yeah, I mean, I’m gonna be with him every single day, in every single meeting. Found my seat next to him today in the offensive meeting — whether or not that sticks — right next to Will Howard. So, I’m going to help him out as much as I can.”

Aaron Rodgers joins Will Howard in Steelers’ QB room

Obviously, there’s a ton Howard can learn from Rodgers. The 41-year-old is a four-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion. Howard enters the league with the reputation of being a winner after leading Ohio State to a College Football Playoff National Championship this past season. Howard finished the 2024 season throwing for 4,010 yards, 35 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 73% passing. He rushed for 226 yards and seven additional scores.

The Steelers waited months for Rodgers to make a decision on his NFL future. Even before he signed, Howard talked about the idea of getting to share a room with Rodgers.

“Idolized him growing up,” Howard said last month on Up and Adams. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. Who knows? That’s all over my head, but I’d love to be in a room and learn from him.”

Howard will certainly pick up a thing or two being around Rodgers. But the Steelers’ main objective in signing Rodgers is him leading them to postseason success. Pittsburgh has not won a playoff game since the 2016 season. But right now, that’s far from the front of Rodgers’ mind. Tuesday was Day 1 of mandatory minicamp. There’s a lot of work to be done.

“We’re day one of minicamp for me,” Rodgers said. “So, I’m just taking it one day at a time.”