“Give Him More Than 3 Games” — Why the Steelers Can’t Afford to Repeat the Same QB Mistake With Will Howard

For years, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been caught in a frustrating cycle at quarterback — a pattern of impatience, short-term evaluation, and quick decisions that never allow a young passer to truly develop. Now, with rookie Will Howard waiting in the wings and the offense desperately searching for identity, one question looms over the entire franchise:

If the Steelers make the switch… will they actually commit to it?

Because history shows they rarely do.

Fans don’t have to look far for an example. Mason Rudolph flashed promise multiple times, showed poise under pressure, kept the team afloat during injuries, and even helped Pittsburgh make late-season pushes. But what he never received — not once — was a full season with the keys to the offense. Instead, he got scattered opportunities, short streaks, and a constant awareness that one mistake could send him back to the bench.

And that’s exactly the environment where quarterbacks fail.

Many fans point to the early years of Terry Bradshaw as a stark reminder of how bumpy development can be. Bradshaw threw more interceptions than touchdowns in his first two seasons. He was benched multiple times. He was booed, doubted, and written off by analysts. Today? He’s a four-time Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest players in franchise history.

Not because he was perfect early.
But because the Steelers committed to the long haul.

The modern Steelers, however, haven’t shown that same patience. The franchise wants instant results — a mindset that sounds good on paper but almost never produces long-term success. Quarterbacks rarely blossom in 3–4 games. They need starting reps, rhythm, chemistry, and trust. They need to fail safely before they can grow confidently.

That’s what makes the Will Howard situation so delicate.

If Pittsburgh turns to Howard, they cannot treat him like a temporary spark plug.
They cannot pull him after two bad weeks.
They cannot stunt his development with fear-based coaching.

Howard has the physical tools — size, arm strength, mobility, aggression — but he will need time to learn the speed of NFL defenses and adjust his decision-making. That learning curve is not a flaw. It is normal. Even expected.

The question is whether the Steelers will allow it.

Because if they insert Howard and give him just three or four games before making another change, they risk repeating the same mistake that’s defined their post–Ben Roethlisberger era: hoping for long-term stability while refusing to provide long-term opportunity.

If the Steelers truly want to find their quarterback of the future, the answer is simple:

Stop searching for perfection in a month.
Pick a direction — and commit to it.

Only then will Pittsburgh finally break the cycle.