Madden Monday: Steelers could 'talk themselves into (Will) Howard being the guy' in 2026

On Saturday night, Pittsburgh Steelers fans will get a good look at rookie quarterback Will Howard during the team’s preseason opener in Jacksonville.

Maybe that’s not a good thing. Maybe they are better off with the pristine image they have already created of Howard in their heads. Maybe it’s best if Howard remains the unwrapped shiny new toy as long as possible.

Because a large chunk of Pittsburgh has already seemingly talked itself into thinking the sixth-rounder is an overlooked diamond in the rough. A bumpy preseason opener sure would bring reality back into focus.

A good game, though, would launch the hysteria surrounding last year’s national champion quarterback into the stratosphere.

Even with Aaron Rodgers here.

During this week’s “Madden Monday” podcast, Mark Madden of 105.9 The X is preparing for that eventuality.

“If he plays really well in the preseason — and let’s say everybody gets hurt and he plays in the regular season and does pretty (well) — I could see the Steelers talking themselves into Howard being the guy (for 2026), and, ‘We don’t need to draft somebody in the first round. We can get another defensive player, because that’s what we do here in Pittsburgh,’” Madden said. “Then, of course, it’s screwed up even worse.”

More sports

• Mason Rudolph enjoying return to Saint Vincent, chance to play again for Steelers
• Steelers linebacker Mark Robinson gets audition at fullback in goal-line drill
• Full Count: A blown 9-run lead at Rockies has Jim Rooker wondering how low Pirates will go

Madden isn’t down on Howard. He’s just not willing to buy into the hype that the Steelers managed to find a QB of the future in a guy the entire league passed on 184 times.

“I am interested to see Will Howard play, but I hope he has no chance of ever competing for the starting job,” Madden explained. “I think his ceiling is being a competent career backup, and really not even that.”

Madden says the early Howard phenomenon is just the latest example of the Saint Vincent College flu bug that seems to bite everyone in Western Pa. this time of year.

“The optimism with this team is out of control,” Madden said. “I do credit that to Rodgers, because Rodgers has presented himself very well, (and) said all the right things. His teammates are gushing about him, and it’s made people think he’s (really) that Aaron Rodgers.”

Also in the podcast, Madden and I talk about the Pirates’ underwhelming trade deadline moves, their hideous loss Friday in Colorado, a potential MLB salary cap, Sidney Crosby’s legacy, Mike Tomlin’s history, and more.