He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.

[12] He was the Offensive MVP of Alabama's victory over Clemson in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship after recording five receptions for 208 yards and two touchdowns.

[21] Coming out of college, Howard was projected as a first round pick by the majority of NFL experts and scouts.

[22] Howard finished the game with four catches for 39 receiving yards, helping the South defeat the North 16–15.

[29] He was only the second Alabama tight end selected in the first round in the common draft era, after Ozzie Newsome in 1978.

[31] Howard entered the regular season as one of the starting tight ends along with veteran Cameron Brate.

On September 17, 2017, in Week 2, Howard made his professional regular season debut and caught one reception for 17-yards in the Buccaneers 29–7 victory over the Chicago Bears.

[37] In Week 2, against the Philadelphia Eagles, Howard recorded a 75-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick as part of a 96-yard performance in the victory.

[42] On April 29, 2020, the Buccaneers exercised the fifth-year option on Howard's contract,[43] worth $6.013 million guaranteed for the 2021 season.

[44] Howard recorded three catches for 50 yards and a touchdown during the 38–31 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 4.

[51] In the Texans' 2022 regular season opener, Howard had two receiving touchdowns in the 20–20 tie to the Indianapolis Colts.