W͏ill Howard’s NFL͏ dream came true w͏h͏en t͏he Pittsb͏ur͏gh Steele͏rs sele͏cte͏d him ͏wit͏h the 185th pi͏ck in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft͏.͏ T͏he 6-foot-4 ͏quart͏erback fro͏m Ohio Sta͏te Buckeyes caught͏ head coach Mike͏ Tomlin’s attention a͏f͏ter leading the Buckeyes to͏ a national title and shining in the p͏layoff run. F͏o͏llowing ͏the draft, Tomlin pr͏aised ͏H͏owar͏d’s r͏esi͏lience, s͏ay͏ing, “There’͏s going ͏to be s͏ome a͏dversity, how͏ you ͏r͏es͏pond ͏t͏o it defines you… particularly from͏ the quarterback p͏osi͏t͏ion.”
But even before the pick was announced, Howard was already hoping for this exact outcome. “Please pick me, Pittsburgh,” he whispered during the draft.
Just seconds later, the phone rang. “Yes, sir,” Howard answered, his voice filled with hope. Tomlin replied, “All right, man, let’s go,” confirming Howard's NFL destination.
The call continued with warmth and excitement.
“Will, how you doing?” asked Tomlin. “I’m doing great, Coach. How are you?” replied Howard. Tomlin then congratulated him, adding, “You deserve it, man… you guys enjoy the day.” Howard joked, “All Eagles fans, but now there are gonna be some damn Steelers fans in this world.”
Howard, clearly emotional, could only say, “Thank you so much, guys. Let’s go, Steelers.”
The selection marks a new chapter for Howard, who threw for over 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns in 2024. Despite not drafting a top-tier QB like Shedeur Sanders, the Steelers believe in Howard’s upside.
With Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson in the QB room, and a possible Aaron Rodgers signing looming, Howard may be a developmental piece for now, but his connection with Coach Tomlin is already rock solid.
And it all started with one hopeful whisper and a life-changing phone call.
