New Steelers offensive coordinator on Will Howard

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – We’ve heard the praise from Mike McCarthy about working with second-year quarterback Will Howard. He has praised his traits in his first couple of months with the Steelers. How about new offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio?

“I’ve really enjoyed Will,” Angelichio said to reporters on the South Side on Friday. “He’s got a great personality. He’s been impressive in the quarterback room.”

Monday will be the first day the team gets on the field and works for an organized team workout, but they’ve had meetings now for a couple of weeks. Howard was injured in training camp just before the team started pre-season games last year, so he’s yet to play in any action against opposing teams at this level.

“Obviously, we haven’t gone out on the grass with him but his ability to communicate, articulate, pick up the scheme,” Angelichio said. “It’s been really impressive.”

Aaron Rodgers remains unsigned with the NFL Draft starting Thursday. There didn’t seem concern about him potentially not being there for that, although Angelico said he preferred to have everyone be a part of any time on the field.

McCarthy will call the plays, but Angelichio said they will work closely together, as they have in the past. Angelichio has worked with McCarthy previously in Green Bay, and spent the last four years at Minnesota with Kevin O’Connell and likely brings some newer ideas. Steelers will run a progression-based offense and while they’ve all had different experiences, Angelichio said you can dress it several ways, it all comes back to the basics. And the one thing that we will see with the Steelers 2026 offense.

“You just try to develop a scheme that is quarterback friendly,” Angelichio said. “You’ll hear Coach McCarthy say this all the time, everything goes through the quarterback. Like it has for Coach McCarthy’s entire time of coaching.”

“You try to get concepts they are comfortable with. If the quarterback is not comfortable with something, we aren’t going to do it. It doesn’t matter what the plays are, it’s about the training of the quarterback.”

Steelers don’t know who that quarterback is, but are moving forward putting in a new plan under an entirely new offensive coaching staff.