Former Steelers Linebacker Ryan Shazier Has Convincing Words About Rookie Will Howard

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in such a horrible situation at the quarterback position and a large portion of the fan base is willing to see what it has in sixth-round rookie quarterback, Will Howard. Many late-selected quarterbacks have overcome that adversity in history and turned out to be iconic players. A lot of the successful late-round selected quarterbacks in year's past have a "secret weapon" that elevates their game like no other. For some, the best part of their game is their ability to win, like Tom Brady, and maybe Howard in the future.

Howard is coming off of a National Championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes, yet was still taken as the eighth quarterback in the 2025 NFL Draft. Throwing for 40 touchdowns to an electrifying offense, Howard was expected to be a late-round option that the Steelers had their eyes on. Howard couldn't be more excited to be a member of the black and gold, and if there's anything that would lead him to potentially becoming the next franchise quarterback, it's his attitude. 

On Friday, a couple of former Pittsburgh linebackers, Arthur Moats and Ryan Shazier, appeared on The Arthur Moats Experience. After talking about numerous things related to Shazier's career, Moats asked Shazier about the new Ohio State rookies. The former Buckeye starting linebacker had only great things to say about Howard.

"I don't know Will, but when Ohio State got Will, a lot of people were like, 'Why we got Will Howard?'" Shazier said to Moats. "I didn't know Will personally, but I knew what to say about him. I knew he's a winner. I think even [Omar Khan] said that in his interview, or [Mike Tomlin]."

Shazier only just started helping out with the Steelers' coaching staff last season, being an offensive assistant. 

"I was even telling people that before he got drafted, Shazier said. "I was just like, the one thing that you can say about Will Howard is that he is a winner. I understand he lost two games this year. The one thing [with] Will, a lot of people don't realize, before he went to O-State, he won the Big 12 Championship at Kansas State. The funny thing about it at Kansas State, that's when Texas and Oklahoma was still in the Big 12. Like, Kansas State, they ain't got the dogs that Oklahoma and Texas got. But he figured out how to win it."

The Steelers have been unable to win the so-called "big games" when they've mattered most over the last few years. Their inability to win a single playoff game over the last eight seasons is also very alarming. Pittsburgh needs its next franchise quarterback to be a winner.

Shazier was another great product from Ohio State. If it wasn't for his tragic spinal injury, Shazier would have possibly still been leading the defense currently. He quickly became one of the best middle linebackers in the entire NFL in playing just 46 career regular season games and six playoff games.

The Steelers Have Gotten Quality Leaders From Ohio State Over The Years

The Steelers are hopeful that Howard and Jack Sawyer turn into key pieces on both sides of the ball, especially from a leadership standpoint. Along with Shazier, Cam Heyward was taken from Ohio State by the Steelers, and he turned out to be one of the franchise's greatest defensive linemen ever. Heyward can be a great mentor for the two, especially Sawyer, who will work in on defense.