Will Howard and his girlfriend, Skyler Skoglund, had been counting down the days, minutes, and seconds, their hopes riding the emotional rollercoaster of the 2025 NFL Draft. The Ohio State Buckeyes’ national championship-winning QB, once projected as a mid-round pick, waited alongside Skyler and his family, with social media snapshots capturing their pre-draft adventures — from workouts to quiet moments of reflection. The patience paid off when the Pittsburgh Steelers made the call, selecting Howard in the sixth round. But it wasn’t just the pick that left an imprint on the night; it was the raw emotion that followed, the kind that burns into memory forever.

As the words rang out announcing his name, Will Howard didn’t just smile or pump his fist like so many do. No, the 6-foot-4, 236-pound QB collapsed into tears, overwhelmed by the weight of the journey. It was his mother who reached him first, embracing her son in a moment that said everything words never could. And then came Skyler, the second to feel her man’s powerful embrace. Sealing the night’s memories in a scene that could melt even the iciest of hearts. Here was a reminder that football, at its soul, is a human story. Howard had already given fans a glimpse into his tight bond with Skoglund, posting photos from his pro day at Ohio State, leading with a simple but poignant caption: “Lately,” a whisper of love in a sea of noise.

That connection between Will Howard and Skoglund wasn’t just for show. When Howard’s draft stock wavered after a rocky NFL Combine performance, it was Skyler who became the lighthouse through the storm. After a particularly rough media cycle, it was she who first noticed the toll. “Will Howard had no idea how badly his week was going until the internet told him,” ESPN’s Elizabeth Merrill wrote on April 10. “’Are you all right?’ his girlfriend Skyler Skoglund asked him last month, after Howard opened his phone.”

Howard, believing he had done fine, was blindsided by the swell of criticism that awaited him online. As he touched down in Minnesota to see Skyler, he was greeted not with warm congratulations but a jarring reality check. A screenshot of Shedeur Sanders, the former Colorado QB, firing back at Howard’s haters.

It was the kind of moment that could crack even the steeliest prospect. But not Howard. His relationship with Skoglund gave him the resilience to block out the noise and stay locked into the grind. After all, this is a passer who led Ohio State to a national championship over Notre Dame, engineering drives with a calm hand and fearless precision that screamed Sunday-ready. Despite the Combine turbulence, Howard remained unfazed, embodying a next-play mentality that NFL scouts quietly admire even more than 40-yard dash times or Wonderlic scores. Every quarterback faces adversity.

Now, he joins a Steelers quarterback room that is anything but settled. Mason Rudolph, who showed flashes late last season, and Skylar Thompson, a serviceable backup, are currently in-house. The whispers around Pittsburgh hint at a potential Aaron Rodgers signing, but even if the veteran legend arrives, Howard will be in the thick of a fascinating battle. Pittsburgh’s quarterback carousel has spun wildly, and Howard, with his quick release, toughness under pressure, and championship pedigree, could be an intriguing wild card in the team’s evolving playbook.

Snagging Howard in the sixth round feels like finding a forgotten $100 bill tucked into an old coat pocket.

Will Howard’s setup in Pittsburgh looks pretty sweet

Will Howard had it good at OSU. When you’re throwing to elite wideouts like Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka and handing the ball off to studs like Quinshon Judkins and TreVeyon Henderson, life is pretty nice under center. Now, stepping into the NFL, Howard’s not exactly getting tossed into the deep end without a life jacket.

In Pittsburgh, he’ll have a strong group around him. DK Metcalf and George Pickens will be his main men out wide. Two absolute monsters when it comes to making plays. He’ll also have Pat Freiermuth at tight end, a legit security blanket over the middle, and a versatile backfield to lean on with Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson, Kenneth Gainwell, and the ageless wonder Cordarrelle Patterson.

Sure, Howard probably starts out as a backup — that’s just life as an NFL rookie quarterback. But considering the current state of the Steelers’ QB room, don’t be shocked if he pushes for real playing time sooner rather than later. The setup is there, the weapons are ready, and Howard just might be the guy to take advantage of it.