Will Howard is the favorite for the Steelers 2027 starting quarterback job
Will Howard is the favorite for the Steelers 2027 starting quarterback job originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently operating in a quarterback vacuum.
While the fan base remains fixated on the looming decision from 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers , the front office has quietly secured the only quarterback currently under contract for the 2027 season: second-year passer Will Howard. Howard’s collegiate profile suggests he isn’t just a "break glass in case of emergency" option, but a deliberate schematic fit for Mike McCarthy’s "Texas Coast" offense. The Efficiency Anchor Evaluation of Howard’s final collegiate season at Ohio State reveals a quarterback who mastered the art of the high-percentage read.
Howard completed 73. 1 percent of his passes in 2024 , a school record that placed him second in the nation. While critics point to the elite receiving corps he enjoyed in Columbus, the data indicates Howard was the engine of that efficiency rather than a passenger.
He ranked third nationally in passing efficiency (175. 25), proving that his accuracy remained stable even as the Buckeyes pushed for a national championship. The Schematic Marriage Jan 27, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy looks on at a press conference announcing him as the new Pittsburgh Steelers head coach at PNC Champions Club at Acrisure Stadium..
Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Mike McCarthy’s Texas Coast system (a hybrid of West Coast timing and modern spacing) places a premium on horizontal distribution and pre-snap autonomy. Howard’s film shows a quarterback who excels in exactly what McCarthy demands: quick-game clarity. Even with high-level targets, Howard’s decision-making in tight windows remained elite.