Will Howard made serious cash in college with $1.1M in NIL deals, but his new $4.45M rookie contract with the Steelers proves the NFL is still the big payday.
Will Howard’s NFL Deal Outshines $1.1M NIL Earnings in Big Payday Jump
Talk about leveling up! Howard’s wallet just got a lot fatter as he jumps from college football star to NFL rookie. After banking an impressive $1.1 million in NIL deals during his final college season, the former Ohio State and Kansas State quarterback landed a sweet four-year rookie deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers worth a whopping $4.45 million. If you’re keeping score at home, that’s quite the promotion!
Here’s the deal – Howard was crushing it in the NIL game as a college athlete. Ranked No. 34 nationally among college athletes with NIL earnings projected between $1.1 to $1.2 million, this guy was no stranger to big brand partnerships. We’re talking about major players like JLab, Grippo’s Chips, Ricart Automotive, EA Sports, and Dr. Pepper, who all want a piece of the Howard action.
JUST IN: Former Ohio State star quarterback Will Howard has signed his 4-year rookie contract with Pittsburgh #Steelers.
Howard’s deal with the Pittsburgh is worth $4.45 million.
(📸: @steelers) pic.twitter.com/tjuWL5kjX0
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) May 9, 2025
And it wasn’t just cash coming his way. Remember that sweet Bronco he got from Ricart Automotive? Yeah, being a college star has its perks these days! After transferring to Ohio State in 2024, Howard’s success on the field (over 4,000 passing yards and 35 touchdowns!) helped him score that high-profile deal with Dr. Pepper right after the national championship game, where he snagged Offensive MVP honors.
But wait until you hear about his NFL money! Despite being a Day 3 selection (185th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft), Howard’s rookie contract with the Steelers is worth $4,448,100 over four years. That breaks down to about $1,112,025 per year on average, matching his entire college NIL earnings every season!
His 2025 numbers? He’s considering an $840,000 salary cap charge and $840,000 in cash for his rookie year. Not too shabby for a sixth-rounder, right?
From NIL Star to NFL Rookie: The Financial Evolution
Here’s something interesting – Howard’s case shows us the new money landscape for top college athletes. While his $1.1 million in NIL money would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, his NFL rookie contract nearly quadruples that amount over four years. And that’s before we even talk about performance bonuses or those sweet NFL endorsement deals that could be coming his way!
What’s fascinating is that Howard turned down bigger NIL money to make his transfer to Ohio State. On the Footbahlin Podcast, he revealed that Miami offered him more cash, but he chose development over finances. As he put it, “Coach Day is my guy, and he took a chance on me. He’s developed me. I’ve never been coached so hard.”
KEEP READING: Newly Drafted Pittsburgh Steelers QB Will Howard Already Making Headlines for Outstanding Work Ethic
Looks like that decision paid off big time! Howard won a national championship and built up his national profile through those NIL partnerships, making himself more attractive to NFL teams and sponsors alike.
The bottom line? While NIL deals can now set college stars up for life, the NFL remains the ultimate payday. For Howard, his journey from Kansas State to Ohio State to Pittsburgh represents not just a football career progression but a major financial leveling-up that proves the NFL is still where the real money is!
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