Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Says He Wants to Help Will Howard 'As Much As Possible'

Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers intends to assume a bit of a leadership role in relation to Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Will Howard.

Rodgers said Tuesday on The Pat McAfee Show he's "not gonna overstep my bounds" with Howard or encroach on the territory of quarterbacks coach Tom Arth. The four-time MVP has at least taken Howard aside to say he's willing to help "as much as possible."

When the Green Bay Packers took Rodgers in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft, Brett Favre made it clear he wasn't going out of his way to accommodate his eventual successor.

"My contract doesn't say I have to get Aaron Rodgers ready to play," the Hall of Fame quarterback said at the time. "Now hopefully he watches me and gets something from that."

Favre and Rodgers had a strained dynamic during their three years together.

Informed by that experience, Rodgers has tried to be more of a mentor to the younger players in the QB room, though the results haven't always been positive.

Jordan Love said in May that he and Rodgers maintain a "great relationship." He also reflected in 2023 that watching the 10-time Pro Bowler in practice was beneficial to his development.

It was a different story for Zach Wilson after Rodgers arrived on the New York Jets.

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini reported in January 2024 that "Wilson's feelings about his idol soured over the season." The young quarterback also "barely heard" from Rodgers after the star tore his Achilles and underwent surgery.

In the case of Howard, the former Ohio State star can use whatever advantages he can find.

Howard saw his draft stock climb a bit as the Buckeyes won the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. As a sixth-round pick, however, he has few assurances about his short- or long-term future. There aren't many passers who fall to Day 3 and wind up becoming a permanent starter.

Any advice from Rodgers could be a massive help to Howard as he tries to impress Pittsburgh's coaching staff.