4 players mentioned by Mike Tomlin following Day 1 of Minicamp on Tuesday

The 2025 offseason is rolling on! After teams have set their 90-man rosters ahead of the 40-day hiatus before training camp, the Steelers were on the field for team activities for the final week of offseason activities in the form of mandatory minicamp. After not hearing from him during the previous weeks of Phase Three of OTAs, Tomlin spoke to the media to answer questions. With plenty of questions asked by those in attendance, it is once again time for a players mentioned article. Remember these are current members of the Pittsburgh Steelers where a specific question was asked during the Q&A period.

T.J. Watt

Coach Tomlin was asked if he had any comment on T.J. Watt’s absence.

“No. Certainly we’d like him to be here, but certainly not surprised by where we are. We’ve expressed a desire to get the business done. He has as well. So, we’ll continue to work. We’ve been here before.”

Coach Tomlin was asked if there is concern about Watt’s future with the team.

“No.”

Coach Tomlin was asked if Watt gave him advance notice that he wouldn’t appear.

“Whatever communication transpires between he and I will remain there.”

Aaron Rodgers

Coach Tomlin was asked, in his eyes, what Aaron Rodgers brings to the team.

“I mean, read his resume. We’re excited about him being here. He’s excited about being here. We’ll make no bold predictions. We’re just going to roll our sleeves up and go to work and let our efforts do the talking.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about how uncomfortable it was when it came to the wait for Aaron Rodgers.

“It wasn’t for me.”

Coach Tomlin was asked if he envisions a quarterback competition this summer.

“I don’t.”

Coach Tomlin was asked if it changes when you have no snaps here with these guys and this staff and this environment.

“I trust that whatever issues or learning curve things that he needs to get through will be handled during the down period of the summer for sure.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about how Rodgers said he appreciated the way Tomlin communicated with him while he was going through some stuff and what allowed him that patience of letting him go through that stuff.

“We’ve both been in our roles a long time, so there’s personal comfort and security in that. Maybe we could relate on that level.”

Coach Tomlin was asked about what Rodgers brings in leadership and veteran experience.

“Read his resume.”

Will Howard

Coach Tomlin was asked about Aaron Rodgers just observing and learning the offense. In his response, Coach Tomlin mentioned Will Howard.

“I’ll be straightforward with you. June reps are a heck of a lot more important for a guy like Will Howard at this stage of his career than a guy that’s been doing it 20 years. Whatever snaps he gets, you take away from a guy like Will Howard, and we’re trying to get this collective ready for training camp.”

Coach Tomlin was asked how beneficial it can be to have your starting quarterback here for all of the OTAs. In his response, Coach Tomlin indirectly mentioned Howard as a quarterback who has no NFL snaps.

“Again, as I said, physical repetitions in June for a guy with 20 years’ experience is not that significant. It’s very significant for a guy with no snaps.”

Derrick Harmon

Coach Tomlin was asked about how Karl Dunbar mentioned on Tuesday that Derrick Harmon is the starter and if that’s how he views it.

“We’ll sort out all the divisional labor and roles, and depth chart things when we get to real football. Right now, it’s just football like.”

Coach Tomlin’s complete time with the media can be seen here:

Coach Tomlin spoke to the media after our first minicamp practice. pic.twitter.com/siJwjSg1tR

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 10, 2025