The Pittsburgh Steelers do not do chaos. They do not chase trends, they do not panic-hire, and they rarely rewrite their own rules. That is why the hiring of Mike McCarthy feels so loud, even in its quiet, buttoned-up announcement.
After Mike Tomlin’s resignation following 19 seasons, Pittsburgh did not turn inward or gamble on potential. It reached for experience. Familiarity. A coach who knows what it feels like to win now. McCarthy’s return to Pittsburgh, this time as head coach, signals that the team is tired of watching January end early.
Former NFLer Hints at Steelers’ Big Plans for Its QBs after Mike McCarthy’s Hire
McCarthy’s hiring instantly reopened a conversation that suggests the Pittsburgh Steelers may not be finished with Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Famer came to Pittsburgh last season carrying both skepticism and hope, and by most measures, he delivered, posting a score of 71.4 on PFSN’s QB Impact Metric with a C- grade.
Still, time is undefeated. At 42, Rodgers is no longer a long-term answer, and he has been candid about contemplating retirement after the 2025 season. But McCarthy’s hiring adds another layer of possibility. The two share a long history in Green Bay, one that included a Super Bowl title, years of offensive brilliance, and a relationship that once felt fractured beyond repair. Lately, though, Rodgers’ tone has shifted. Where there was once tension, there is now gratitude. Perspective. Maybe even a willingness to run it back one last time.
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Yet Pittsburgh’s future may not hinge solely on Rodgers’ timeline.
Quietly and patiently, the Steelers have been investing in another name: Will Howard.
The former Ohio State quarterback, a national champion and a sixth-round pick, spent his rookie season learning. There was no pressure to start and no rush to prove himself. Instead, he spent a year absorbing everything he could from Rodgers.
Former NFL quarterback Kurt Benkert, regarding the situation, posted on X on Saturday:
“I can’t help but think McCarthy going to Pittsburgh has something to do with the potential of Will Howard. Somebody knows something. 📈”
I can’t help but think McCarthy going to Pittsburgh has something to do with the potential of Will Howard.
Somebody knows something. 📈 pic.twitter.com/luej77jH3b
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) January 24, 2026
In another tweet, he said:
“One more year of development is the old Packers way of QB dev and a Rodgers return could do that.”
McCarthy’s philosophy has always leaned toward patience at quarterback, most famously with Rodgers himself, who waited behind Brett Favre before becoming who he became. If Pittsburgh is borrowing from that playbook, the outline is clear: keep Rodgers around for stability, give Howard another year to grow, and avoid forcing a young quarterback into an impossible situation.
