In Pittsburgh, draft season isn’t so much about what’s said as what’s left unsaid. Especially when Mike Tomlin’s in charge. Each April, the Steelers’ head coach steps to the mic or sits at a prospect’s dinner table with a smile that gives away nothing. So when rumors swirled this spring—from Aaron Rodgers sightings to Shedeur Sanders smoke signals—anyone paying attention knew better than to bite. Because with Tomlin, the quarterback they’re talking about usually isn’t the one they’re taking.

This year, that strategy reached its apex. While most of the NFL world had its eyes on household names, the Steelers quietly watched Will Howard. The 6-foot-4 quarterback who transferred to Ohio State for a one-year encore after three at Kansas State didn’t command the pre-draft hype. But inside the Steelers’ building, Howard closed out a 4,000-yard season by leading Ohio State to a national championship, a finish that quietly caught attention. It was just never going to be announced.

Not until pick No. 185.

What happened this year is not very unfamiliar. Just ask Malik Willis. In 2022, the Liberty quarterback tore up his pro day, launched a 65-yard missile in front of a gallery of scouts, and dined with Tomlin, an encounter that Willis himself gushed about afterward. “Mike Tomlin’s eating chicken wings? That’s what you want,” he said at the time. Steelers fans took the bait. Pittsburgh held the 20th pick, and Tomlin had been one of just two head coaches in attendance. The dots were too easy to connect until draft night came, and the Steelers selected Kenny Pickett. The pick, the process, even the chicken wings were pure smoke.

As always, Tomlin quietly carried out a strategy that had been planned over months. From calculated deals and free agency signings to clever pre-draft visits, the Steelers were avoiding the quarterback limelight. GM Omar Khan and Tomlin strengthened their roster elsewhere as the media focused on possible quarterback acquisitions. They signed veteran corners like Darius Slay Jr., traded a second-round pick for DK Metcalf, and got ready to go defense-heavy on draft night.

And they did. Defensive linemen made up three of the Steelers’ first four selections, and the fourth? Jack Sawyer is a high-upside pass rusher. QB? Almost a blip—until round six. An insider also said that if you looked closely, you could see that the Steelers left breadcrumbs all over the place. Their visits to the draft were instructive. Their approach to free agency suggested a change in position. “When free agency hit, we had had enough time to analyze the draft pool… we recognized those were probably good locations to invest in veteran NFL guys,” even Tomlin said.

So, why is there so much talk about Sanders? Easy. Tomlin enjoys the game a lot. Prior to the draft, Tomlin stated, “It’s a game to be played. It’s a competition. It’s fun.” Behind the scenes, however, it was evident that the Steelers never pursued quarterbacks who made headlines. They were chasing their quarterback. And when Will Howard’s name was called, the picture finally came into focus. That it was never a random choice. He was who Tomlin really wanted.

The moment Mike Tomlin made it personal with Will Howard

Before the call ever came in, Will, who had just finished a run for a national championship, had already whispered, “Please pick me, Pittsburgh.” And then his phone lit up a few seconds later. On the opposite end? Mike Tomlin. To keep it warm, Tomlin said, “How are you, Will?” Howard replied, suppressing his emotions, “I’m doing great, Coach. How are you?”

The coach of the Steelers remarked, “All right, man, let’s go. Man, you deserve it. You all have a good day.” Then came the best part—Howard, cracking a smile through the tears: “All Eagles fans, but now there are gonna be some damn Steelers fans in this world.” The heartfelt exchange was captured in a video shared later. It was a moment to remember. One built on resiliency, leadership, and postseason prowess rather than media hoopla or scouting combine showmanship. Tomlin made it clear: Howard wasn’t a flier pick. He was a fit.

“There’s going to be some adversity, how you respond to it defines you and your football team—particularly from the quarterback position,” Tomlin added. “How he responded to that adversity at the end of their regular season… was really attractive.” Howard’s 2024 passing total included more than 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns. And he led the Buckeyes to victory. That’s what the Steelers need at the moment.

Even with Mason Rudolph, Skylar Thompson, and a potential Aaron Rodgers wildcard in the quarterback room, Howard offers something that no one else does: a fresh start and a coach who already has faith in him. And as the phone call closed, it wasn’t just a formality—it was a tone-setter: “Let’s go, Steelers,” Howard replied through tears.

This was not an impromptu decision. It was based on a long play. Built on one coach’s unwavering instinct, deceptive tactics, and scouting discipline. Mike Tomlin’s poker face likely duped everyone. However, the Steelers refused to give up. Where no one was looking, they found their man.