There was rumored drama between veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers when they selected his successor in Jordan Love. But Rodgers turned into a very good mentor for Love, who is now viewed as one of the bright young NFL quarterbacks.
Rodgers shared with the media Tuesday that his goal is to help sixth-round rookie Will Howard with the Pittsburgh Steelers however he can as well.
“Will’s a good kid. We’ve got to talk a little bit. I thought he did really well today,” Rodgers said after his first Steelers minicamp practice. “He seems pretty bright, not too big for him. Going through the progressions really well.
“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.
“I’m gonna help him out as much as I can.”
The Steelers drafted Howard at No. 185 overall in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. League draft pundits questioned why the Steelers didn’t target a quarterback earlier because at the time, Rodgers wasn’t signed.
Rodgers agreed to join the Steelers on June 5.
With his contract, the Steelers have one of the oldest quarterbacks in the league and one of the youngest. Howard was three years old when the Packers drafted Rodgers in the 2005 NFL Draft.
Steelers’ Aaron Rodgers Plans to Help Rookie Will Howard
Rodgers has the reputation of having a prickly personality. The tension that supposedly came with the arrival of Love in Green Bay only added to that narrative around Rodgers.
Rodgers’ former quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator Tom Clements, though, has said that the four-time MVP is great in the quarterback room and the locker room overall.
“The guys that played with him or have played with him for a long time, they can’t say enough good things about him,” Clements said on 93.7 The Fan during the first week of June, via Steelers Depot’s Ross McCorkle. “He’s a very good teammate … If there’s a young quarterback in the room, he’s very good at mentoring them and helping them along because he didn’t.
“When he was a young QB, Brett [Favre] didn’t come to the offseason program, and he didn’t really have anyone helping him like he has helped people in the past.”
Rodgers sat behind Brett Favre in Green Bay for three seasons. Rodgers finally made his first start during Week 1 of the 2008 NFL season.
He went 6-10 in his first season as a starter. But he led the Packers to the playoffs in 2009-10. Rodgers then won the Super Bowl with the team during 2010-11.
Howard’s Age When Rodgers Was Drafted
Howard was at least almost seven when Rodgers made his first NFL start. But incredibly, Howard was about three and a half during the 2005 Draft.
A reporter asked the veteran quarterback during his first Pittsburgh media session if the rookie had mentioned that to him.
“Not yet, but I’m sure he will,” said Rodgers with a slight smile.
Howard led the Ohio State Buckeyes to the national championship during the 2024-25 season. He completed 73% of his passes for 4,010 yards with 35 touchdowns, all of which were top marks in the Big Ten.
Howard will serve as Pittsburgh’s No. 3 quarterback behind Rodgers and Mason Rudolph.
