One Of 2026's Top Quarterback Prospects Expresses Strong Desire To Play For Mike McCarthy And The Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in a weird spot as a franchise. The roster has some key pieces and could be good enough to sneak back into the postseason in 2026, but the organization is going through some major changes. Mike McCarthy was just hired as the team's head coach, and there are still major questions at quarterback. It is nearly impossible to win any meaningful games late in the year without a capable franchise quarterback, and the Steelers have not exactly had one of those since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. It is unclear who will even play the position in 2026.

As of right now, the Steelers only have Mason Rudolph and Will Howard under contract for the 2026 season. A large portion of fans would like to see Howard get a chance to start, but it is far more likely that someone else is brought into the fold. Aaron Rodgers returning is a possibility as well if he would like to continue his career, and that was something McCarthy left the door open for during his press conference on Tuesday. 

Pittsburgh could also bring in another quarterback through the draft, with LSU's Garrett Nussmeier being a likely option. He spoke to the press while at the Senior Bowl in Alabama, and he was asked about the Steelers and McCarthy.

"I would love to play for the Steelers and McCarthy," Nussmeier said.

Nussmeier was a big reason the 2026 NFL draft class was talked about so highly for quarterbacks going into the 2025 season. His play regressed, and he was eventually benched as he tried to play through multiple injuries. His draft stock fell as it was thought that he would be a first-round pick ahead of the season, but now it is more likely that he goes late on Day 2 or early on Day 3.

Nussmeier is somewhat connected to the Steelers and McCarthy. His father is a football coach that has coached at the college and professional level throughout Nussmeier's entire life, and currently Doug Nussmeier is the offensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints. He has also worked for the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers in recent years, but he was McCarthy's quarterback coach while the two were together with the Dallas Cowboys.

Despite the fact that Nussmeier was expected to be a first-round pick ahead of the 2025 season, there is no clear sense that he would be any better than Howard. It wouldn't make much sense to reach for a quarterback like Nussmeier, but if he falls further into Day 3, he might be worth taking a shot on. Pittsburgh also has a ton of draft picks as of right now, so taking a few swings wouldn't be too frowned upon.

Nussmeier's play regressed during his final season specifically at LSU, but there was a lot of dysfunction going on around him. His head coach had a target on his forehead throughout the start of the year and was eventually fired. The quarterback was playing through a knee and core injuries, which is eventually what got him "medically benched." If he returns to full health, there could be a decent amount of untapped potential with Nussmeier. The SEC schedule should also better prepare a quarterback for life in the NFL.

Steelers Need To Give Will Howard A Shot In 2026

Howard was a sixth-round pick in 2025, so there is no real expectations for him to turn into anything, but McCarthy seemed pretty excited about the idea of getting to work with him. He has all of the raw tools as he is a good size and could use his legs when he needs to. With McCarthy's experience developing quarterbacks, maybe Pittsburgh could get lucky if they decide to give Howard a legitimate chance as the starter. Worst case scenario is some games are lost and the franchise secures a better pick in 2027.

What do you think about Nussmeier's remarks? Let us know in the comments below!

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