Will Howard focused on the where, not the when, in the NFL Draft
When you are the quarterback of a National Championship team, most would assume the signal caller would be a top pick in the NFL Draft.
If not a 1st Round pick, a Day 2 pick, right?
Wrong.
For Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard, his wait was all the way till the 6th Round of the 2025 draft. After having one of his best seasons, he had to wait until deep in Day 3 until his name was called by the Pittsburgh Steelers. As uncomfortable as it was to watch, in the clip below you can see the genuine joy he had. Not just to be drafted, by to be drafted by the Steelers.
Will Howard manifested the @Steelers drafting him:
“Please pick me, Pittsburgh. Please pick me, please!” #HeyRookie Season Finale airs 9:30 pm ET tonight on ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/qwNIEs7Uw4
— NFL (@NFL) April 29, 2025
“I talked to the Steelers at the Combine,” said Howard. “I had a formal interview with them. I had dinner with them before our Pro Day. It just made a lot of sense. From the moment I met Coach (Mike) Tomlin, I was like this is a guy I can play for. I am just so blessed. I am overwhelmed.”
Ultimately, Howard is focused more on where he was drafted, and not the when. When you look at his accolades throughout his career, you wouldn’t bat an eye if he was slightly dejected for not being drafted until the 6th Round. However, Howard is just thankful he landed where he did.
“It’s been long. But it’s not about when, it’s where,” said Howard, who is from West Chester, Pa. “I had to trust in God and believe he had a plan for me and the right team was going to pick me. And I think 100 percent the right team picked me. I am a Pennsylvania kid.
“The Steelers are an organization I have a lot of respect for a lot of years. Coming into this process I was hoping the Steelers would take me because I thought it was a great organization. I am so blessed.
“I couldn’t be more fired up to be with an organization like the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
This is absolutely one of those great feel-good stories which typically stem from the NFL Draft, but feel-good stories don’t necessarily equate in years of service in the league. Howard will have expectations heaped upon him based on his position, but as a 6th Round pick the hope should be he sticks on the roster in some capacity, even if it is as a back-up.
This weekend the Steelers will get their first real look at Howard, and all other rookies, at the annual Rookie Minicamp, and be sure to stay tuned to SCN for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the rest of the offseason and training camp.
Between his attitude in all of this and the reports that he was calling the QB coach asking for plays when the rookies were given the weekend off, this kid is making it REALLY easy to root for him.
He may never amount to more than a backup at the NFL level, and that would be fine. But it clearly wouldn’t be because of his attitude or effort level.
Agreed BBnG. Howard ain’t no Shedeur as far as attitude. Good backups are great to have, and Howard could show out better.
Charlie Batch will always have a place in my heart. Great guy, great teamate, great community man. I have a feeling he’s more than a career backup, but if if that’s Will Howard’s floor sign me up.
If y’all haven’t watched the latest episode of ” Footbahllin with Ben Roethlisberger” featuring both Howard and Jack Sawyer, it’s well worth the time. High character and love of the game ooze from both of them! Check out out!
Is that Channel Seven?
Found it, Thanks.
Sorry about that Matt, I just got back here to see your question. Glad you found it.
No worries. Had hail here, so I’m partly through the video.
Took your advice and am watched Footbahlin. Jack Sawyer won me over when he said he doesn’t let his girlfriend win at basketball. I LOVE THAT! He also said his parents never let him win. That resonates with me because my wife and I also never let our son win games.
It did with me as well, Joe. Interestingly, when I met my now wife in graduate school, we fell in love on a racquetball court. And what convinced me that she was the one was that she absolutely, positively would not allow me to let up on her. In probably a thousand games that we played, she beat me once. But she earned it! And I was smitten. Here we are, 41+ years later…
That’s awesome! When you know you just know. I knew my wife was special when we had dated just a few times, and she gave me a wedgie outta of the blue and tore the band mostly off my underwear. Almost 30 years later I still haven’t worked up the courage to return the favor….buut one of these days….
THAT is fricking hilarious! I expect a full report back once you work up that courage Joe! Hahaha
One of these days SY, one of these days. She might be wearing Depends when I do it but I’m gonna do it.
I saw it the other day. Tremendous episode! Hopefully he has other rookies on so we can learn more about them like we did Howard and Sawyer.
I absolutely agree Jeff! What a great platform for these rookies to be able to hang out with Big Ben & for us fans to get to learn about them. I’d love to see it.
Finally got around to it last night – that was a fun watch. Thanks!
This guy screams professionalism and ball. After watching his episode with Gruden and Footbahlin, I can say with full confidence the team truly got a steal.
I’m really excited to watch him develop and will be rooting for him 10000%.
Absolutely agree on both counts (Gruden and Footbahlin’).
Man, I’m liking this kid! My expectations for him are NOT that of a sixth round pick. My expectations are that of a national championship winning QB that probably should have been a third rounder and no later than fourth. I think this kid is a winner who keeps defying expectations, and I have no reason to believe he won’t continue to do just that in Pittsburgh. Don’t sleep on Will Howard.
I’m right there with you Joe! As soon as my man Mason furthers our cause this season, I wanna see what Will can do after that. It DOES feel like he’s got something special going on with him…
If we’re going to be talking about any “steal” in the 2025 Draft, this guy might be the one. He’s got all of the tools to become a franchise QB. Hopefully he’ll get the opportunity to play in some games that matter this season because you never know what you’ve got in a QB if he’s kept on the sidelines.
a true Pittsburgh Steelers fan, since the 70’s all Will Howard needs to do is sit and learn while Mason Rudolph is the Steelers starting quarterback