A forgotten man in Steelers’ QB room, Skylar Thompson works to make an impression

Part of a three-man position group, he still is considered by most to be No. 4 on the depth chart.

But don’t tell that to Skylar Thompson. He’s enjoying life with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“I’ve loved it,” Thompson, a fourth-year quarterback, said after Wednesday’s organized team activities session. “It’s been a great experience for me. I feel like I’ve really enjoyed the city, really enjoyed the guys on the team. It’s been a refreshing experience for me, and I’ve been excited to be here.”

Thompson is the forgotten man among the Steelers’ quarterbacks. Mason Rudolph is back and embarking on his seventh season with the franchise. Will Howard is the national championship-winning rookie draft pick.

And there’s that other guy who has won four league MVPs who everyone expects to show up any day now.

Meanwhile, Thompson is the longest continuously tenured quarterback on the roster. Signed to a reserve/future contract in January, Thompson has four NFL starts on his resume — one in the playoffs — with the Miami Dolphins.

Few fans probably even know Thompson is here, let alone clamor for him to start in lieu of Rudolph, Howard or future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers, who has a veritable standing offer to join the Steelers if he chooses to do so.

Thompson, though, chugs along, out to prove he belongs in the discussion.

“I mean, I absolutely, full-heartedly believe in myself,” Thompson said. “And I think that’s what’s been special about this offseason is I went through some adversity last year and got challenged. I just used it to better myself this offseason and tried to have the best offseason I’ve had so far in the league. I really believe that that was the case. I have a lot of confidence coming in here.”

Thompson became a starter as a redshirt freshman at Kansas State and would hold onto the gig — aside from various injuries — for the following four seasons. In 2021, Thompson ranked among the top 12 nationally in completion percentage, yards per attempt and passing efficiency.

Taken in the seventh round in the following spring’s draft, Thompson was the eighth of nine quarterback selected and between the Steelers’ choice of Chris Oladokun (No. 241 overall) and the 49ers’ “Mister Irrelevant” pick of Brock Purdy, who last week signed a $265 million contract extension.

The first quarterback taken that year was Kenny Pickett by the Steelers. That experiment deemed a failure less than two years later, the organization has had four starters since and is in the midst of a high-profile waiting game with the 41-year-old Rodgers.

Those second-team reps Thompson is getting now? He could well end up with the fourth team by training camp if Rodgers signs.

“I’ve got to control what I can,” Thompson said. “Obviously, there’s been a lot of noise around (Rodgers’ potential signing). But, shoot, I’m focused on today and where I’m at today, and that’s all that matters.”

Thompson has a good friend and former teammate in Howard, who was Thompson’s backup at Kansas State in 2020 and 2021.

“Me and him were so close,” Howard said, “and he was such a great mentor for me my first year as a Kansas State.”

Thompson said he kept in touch with Howard over the years and was rooting for him after the 2024 transfer to Ohio State, the team Howard helped lead to the College Football Playoff title.

“He reached out to me before the draft and was hoping to come to Pittsburgh,” Thompson said. “It’s crazy how things worked out.

“We have a great relationship … and so he has my full support, and I know he supports me. It’s really cool and fun to get back together and work together.”

Serving as a backup to Tua Tagovailoa the past three seasons with Miami, Thompson appeared in 11 games, including a wild-card postseason loss in Buffalo as a rookie.

But when a rib injury cut short his only start of this past season, Thompson ultimately was waived in December. After joining the practice squad, he was free to sign with anyone at the conclusion of the season.

“It depends how you look at it, you know?” Thompson said of being cut by Miami. “And I chose to look at it with open light and try to use it for the good. And so when this opportunity presented itself to come to Pittsburgh, I was really excited, honestly, because I thought it would be a great fit for me.

“This organization, obviously, its history and its background, but I thought the values and the way that it’s ran is very similar to myself and my core values and what I believe in. So I was really excited to have this opportunity here, and it’s been great.”