Rodgers’ Last Dance: Steelers Sign Aaron for 2025 Mentorship Mission, Sixth-Round Gem Will Howard Ready to Steal the Show!
Rodgers’ Last Dance: Steelers Sign Aaron for 2025 Mentorship Mission, Sixth-Round Gem Will Howard Ready to Steal the Show!
| June 24, 2025 | Pittsburgh, PA
In a twist fit for a Hollywood script, four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers has signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers for what is expected to be his final NFL season. But this isn’t a comeback fueled by ego or unfinished business—this is a carefully crafted mentorship mission. Rodgers arrives in the Steel City not as a savior under center, but as a guiding hand for rookie quarterback Will Howard, a sixth-round pick out of Kansas State already turning heads at training camp.
The 41-year-old Rodgers, who spent most of the 2024 season rehabbing and mentoring with the New York Jets after an early Achilles injury in 2023, inked a one-year, $7 million incentive-based deal with Pittsburgh earlier this week. His press conference made one thing clear: this is the swan song.
“This is my last dance,” Rodgers said, borrowing a phrase immortalized by Michael Jordan. “But it’s not about me anymore. It’s about helping this young kid grow into the quarterback I know he can be.”
Steelers’ Surprise Sixth-Round Gold
Will Howard’s NFL draft moment didn’t come with cameras, hugs, or flashy suits—but what it lacked in spectacle, it’s making up for in substance. A 6’5″, 240-pound quarterback with a cannon arm and dual-threat mobility, Howard was quietly selected with the 197th overall pick in April. Few outside of Pennsylvania noticed. That is, until minicamp started.
By OTAs, insiders began whispering about Howard’s calm pocket presence, quick release, and natural leadership. Head coach Mike Tomlin called him “a football junkie” and “a guy with serious command beyond his years.”
“Will’s been sharp,” Tomlin said. “He’s got that intangible energy that guys respond to—and he’s got Aaron to sharpen his edges.”
Rodgers: Mentor Mode Activated
Rodgers has long been known for his football IQ, but after years of mentorship drama with Jordan Love in Green Bay, his Pittsburgh arrival carries a completely different tone. The 2025 Steelers don’t need a long-term starter—they need a bridge, and more importantly, a teacher. Rodgers has fully embraced that role.
According to team sources, Rodgers has spent extra hours in the film room with Howard, breaking down blitz reads, cadence control, and footwork precision. He’s even mentoring him on off-field matters, from nutrition to handling the media.
“Aaron’s been incredible,” Howard said during rookie minicamp. “He’s giving me the blueprint, and I’m soaking up every drop.”
Kenny Pickett Fallout and QB Rebuild
The move also signals a clean break from the Kenny Pickett experiment. After an inconsistent 2024 season marred by injuries and turnovers, Pittsburgh traded Pickett to the Falcons in March, opening the QB room and the door for a new era. With Rodgers mentoring and Howard developing, the Steelers are blending old-school wisdom with fresh blood.
Veteran offensive coordinator Matt Canada has already installed a simplified West Coast scheme—tailored to get the ball out fast, utilize play-action, and lean on the Steelers’ strong running game and top-tier defense.
Rodgers’ last ride. Howard’s first chance. Pittsburgh’s next chapter begins now.
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