Aaron Rodgers has not taken a regular-season snap for the Pittsburgh Steelers yet, but one bold prediction already has fans talking. The future Hall of Famer enters what he says will be the final season of his NFL career, and expectations remain sky high. Still, one ESPN analyst believes the conversation around the Steelers’ quarterback room could change before the season ends.Rodgers remains Pittsburgh’s clear starter for 2026. However, a tough late-season stretch and growing excitement around young quarterback Will Howard have created an interesting storyline before Week 1 even arrives.
ESPN analyst sees Will Howard becoming part of the Aaron Rodgers conversation
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed Aaron Rodgers to chase a Super Bowl in 2026, not to start another quarterback competition. Rodgers has repeatedly indicated that this will be his final NFL season, which makes every decision around the position even more important for the franchise’s future.That future entered the spotlight when ESPN analyst Mina Kimes made a surprising prediction during an ESPN podcast while discussing Pittsburgh’s schedule. “My prediction is in December, maybe around Thanksgiving, we’re going to hear this in the stands: ‘Howard! Howard! Howard!’ The Steelers, from November to December, go against the Eagles, Broncos, and Texans. I think that is when Rodgers, maybe Rodgers doesn’t even make it, but I think the fans are going to be very unhappy with the offensive output in those few games.”Her fellow ESPN analyst, Bill Barnwell, immediately questioned why she picked Howard over Drew Allar, another young quarterback on Pittsburgh’s roster.Kimes explained that the idea came from a recent live podcast appearance in Pittsburgh. “This is based on me doing a live podcast in Pittsburgh, and we surveyed the crowd, and they were all begging for Will Howard.”The prediction grabbed attention because it goes against what most expect from the Aaron Rodgers Steelers era. Rodgers signed to lead the offense through the entire season, while veteran Mason Rudolph provides experience behind him. Howard, meanwhile, continues his development as a young quarterback the organization hopes can grow over time.Still, Kimes’ argument centers on Pittsburgh’s difficult stretch late in the season. Games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans could test any offense. If the Steelers struggle to score during that run, she believes fans could begin calling for Howard, even if the coaching staff sticks with Rodgers.That remains a long shot. Rodgers arrives in Pittsburgh with one goal: to make one final championship push before retiring. Unless injuries or a dramatic drop in performance change the picture, the Steelers have every reason to keep the four-time NFL MVP under center.Even so, Kimes’ comments added another layer to one of the NFL’s most closely watched teams. The Aaron Rodgers Steelers era may just be beginning, but the conversation about who follows him has already started. Will Howard may not see the field in 2026, yet his name has become part of the story well before the season kicks off.
