He played nine seasons with the New York Giants, and was a member of the teams that won Super Bowls XXI and XXV.
Howard graduated from Bellarmine Prep in San Jose, California, and played college football for the Washington State Cougars in Pullman under head coach Jim Walden.
With just under three minutes left in the game, the Giants trailed 13–12, and the 49ers had the game nearly wrapped up when Howard fought through a double-team block by 49ers' Guard Guy McIntyre and Center Jesse Sapolu to force running back Roger Craig to fumble the football after getting his helmet on the ball.
The Giants went on to win the game on Matt Bahr's field goal, kicked with four seconds remaining to end the 49ers' bid for a three-peat.
After the 1994 season, Howard signed with the New York Jets as a free agent and played with them for two years before deciding to retire.