Jon Gruden compares Steelers' Will Howard to Super Bowl champion QB

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Will Howard has never taken an in-game snap at the highest level, and it's possible that the Steelers could move on from the 2025 sixth-round draft pick before the upcoming season gets underway. 

Meanwhile, former NFL head coach and current analyst Jon Gruden guided the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl XXXVII victory in January 2003 when Brad Johnson was the Buccaneers' starting quarterback. During a recent appearance on the "Not Just Football" podcast hosted by longtime Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, Gruden shared some high praise for Howard. 

Can Will Howard be the Steelers' "bull" of a QB1?

"I compare Brad [Johnson] to Will Howard, honestly," Gruden explained, per Joe Clark of Steelers Depot. "Brad was the bull. We called him the bull because he was tough as hell. He took a lot of shots. He was a great pocket passer, great communicator and he was loyal to the team. He didn't say anything negative. Nothing bothered him. He was mentally and physically tough."

Those running the Steelers may or may not have said plenty about how they view Howard when the club selected promising quarterback prospect Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Allar and starter Aaron Rodgers should both be on Pittsburgh's active roster this coming September, while Howard and longtime backup Mason Rudolph are on track to compete for Pittsburgh's QB2 job. 

Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote that he doesn't "see any way [the Steelers] keep four QBs on the 53-man roster." Gruden seems convinced the Steelers will ultimately regret it if they give up on Howard this summer. 

Jon Gruden: Will Howard has a "winning aura"

"I think you see, probably closer than anybody, that the guy has the 'it factor,'" Gruden added about Howard. "He's got very good charisma. He's smart. He's a great communicator. He's got some talent, and I'm just hoping he gets a shot at some point with the Steelers. He's got that winning aura that I think a lot of people covet."

Howard should be able to put that supposed aura on display when the Steelers open the preseason with a home game versus the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 13. Then again, Allar could prove to be the breakout star of that contest if he thrives while playing against Green Bay's backups.