Steelers’ Will Howard gets brutally honest on walking right into intense QB competition after missing last season

As the Pittsburgh Steelers start their 2026 training camp, we know that Aaron Rodgers will be the starting quarterback in Week 1. The Steelers backup QB position, though, will be hotly contested. Incumbent Mason Rudolph, second-year signal-caller Will Howard, and rookie third-round pick Drew Allar will all compete for the job, which Howard says is a friendly endeavor.

“It’s not a toxic competition or anything, it’s all out of love, and we’re all trying to make the Pittsburgh Steelers better, and make each other better,” Howard said after practice on Thursday, via Mike DeFabo of The Athletic.

Will Howard on the Steelers’ QB competition pic.twitter.com/0YvnXxmtwM

— Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) July 30, 2026

Howard may currently be in third place in this three-QB race for the Steelers backup QB battle. He missed all of last season after breaking his hand in training camp, so he’ll have to knock off the rust that Rudolph, Pittsburgh’s longtime backup, and Allar, Penn State’s QB1 last season, don’t have.

The former Ohio State quarterback and 2025 sixth-round pick is taking it in stride, though, and is just excited to get back on a football field.

“Will Howard is ready to get back on the football field,” the Steelers-centric X account Blitzbugh shared. “‘I haven’t played in a real football game since the national championship. I’m just, God willing, staying healthy and getting myself ready for those preseason games. Because I can’t wait to get back out there.'”

This Steelers backup QB competition makes the team’s preseason games all that much more important in 2026. Pittsburgh plays its three exhibition games against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 13, the New York Jets on Aug. 21, and the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 27.

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