Aaron Rodgers never forgot what it felt like to be the forgotten kid. Back in 2005, Brett Favre kept him at arm’s length. No mentorship, no warmth. Just cold distance while Rodgers tried to figure out the league on his own. Nearly twenty years later, Rodgers is rewriting that story. This time, he is the mentor. And he is making sure the next guy in Pittsburgh, Will Howard, does not feel what he felt.

“Have you had to take anybody out to dinner yet, Will?” Cam Heyward’s co-host Hayden Walsh asked him on the September 17 episode of Not Just Football. “I have not yet. I haven’t yet,” Howard said, smiling. He then revealed the duties which he has been carrying out,” Aaron’s been good. Really, the only thing I’ve had to do, like rookie stuff, I got the snacks and whatnot at the locker room. I try to get Aaron, make sure he’s good on his nicotine patches and any Mountain Valley water he needs, whatever.” For a rookie quarterback, learning behind a 21-year veteran and Super Bowl-winning quarterback presents an invaluable development opportunity. Will Howard can observe and absorb the qualities needed to succeed at the NFL level by studying Aaron Rodgers’ approach to the game.

There’s a pattern here. Aaron Rodgers was excited when the Packers drafted Jordan Love in 2020. He had then openly said that he would like to help the rookie develop an NFL mindset. He has carried the same formula to the Steelers. Mike Tomlin would be happy to see the veteran help out his rookie, Will Howard.

Howard couldn’t have asked for a better mentor than Rodgers, who has experienced every situation the league can offer. The veteran’s knowledge of reading defenses, managing games, and handling pressure provides Howard with a comprehensive learning environment.

When asked about Rodgers’ inner circle ritual of distributing headphones to teammates, Howard acknowledged he hasn’t received the coveted headsets yet. The rookie expressed anticipation about eventually reaching the level where Rodgers would extend that invitation to him.

Howard’s response suggests the headphones represent a milestone of trust and acceptance within Rodgers’ leadership structure. The rookie understands he must prove himself worthy of inclusion in the veteran quarterback’s select group before gaining access to that exclusive mentorship level.

However, A-Rod is not limiting Will Howard to his personal duties. He and other coaches are paying close attention to the rookie’s learning curve.

Will Howard is the center of the Steelers

The Steelers coaching staff didn’t let Will Howard sit idle after his training camp injury. Instead, they handed him a job. “We’ve come up with kind of a plan of action for me to really stay involved,” Howard said. “And still treat it like I’m gonna be out there on game day. The coaches have given me little projects to do.” Those projects aren’t throwaway tasks. They are designed to keep him thinking like an NFL quarterback. Breaking down tape, tracking signals, staying locked into the weekly game plan. Howard may not be in pads, but mentally, he hasn’t missed a snap.

Then came Aaron Rodgers, who has turned Howard’s recovery into a classroom. Rodgers isn’t just being nice to the rookie; he’s challenging him. “The signal stuff, he likes to give that to me and let me run that stuff,” Howard said. “My goal has been, can I pick up one thing every day from Aaron?”

It is a stark contrast from how Rodgers was treated in Green Bay behind Brett Favre. This time, Rodgers is paying it forward. Giving Howard reps, giving him confidence. Making sure when his chance comes, he’s ready. That chance could come soon. Skylar Thompson’s injury has opened a spot on the 53-man roster. Howard, who was already outplaying Thompson in camp, is eligible to come off IR after Week 4. Pittsburgh currently has just Rodgers and Mason Rudolph active. That makes Howard’s return feel almost inevitable.

When that call comes, he won’t just be the rookie who fractured his finger. He will be the quarterback who has been running meetings, doing homework, and getting Rodgers’ approval every single week. And that could make all the difference when the Steelers need him.