Steelers' Drew Allar Receives Remarkable Ben Roethlisberger Comparison From A Former NFL QB

The Pittsburgh Steelers made some interesting selections in the 2026 NFL Draft when the Steel City hosted the event. The team appeared to have missed out on wide receiver Makai Lemon, and then shifted to select offensive lineman Max Iheanachor as they saw a trend in linemen being selected and wanted to help shore up that unit. The team then selected Drew Allar at 76th overall in the third round, adding yet another quarterback to their roster. While the team still awaits an answer from Aaron Rodgers, the selection of Allar came as an intriguing one for Steeler Nation.

Former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn spoke Tuesday on his 2 Pro's and a Cup of Joe podcast in which he compared Allar to former legendary Black and Gold quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Quinn was not a stranger to watching Allar's college playing days, as he is one of the co-hosts of FOX Big Noon Kickoff on Saturday mornings, which features exclusive Big Ten football coverage. The take from Quinn is certainly one that will raise eyebrows, especially when evaluating Allar's shortcomings in big games at Penn State.

"When I was first watching Drew Allar, he kind of reminded me a little bit of Big Ben," Quinn said. "Similar in size. Big Ben, I think was a better athlete and moves better. But both very strong arms. I'm not trying to say Drew Allar is going to become Big Ben. But in the right system with Mike McCarthy, who has done really well coaching young quarterbacks and developing young quarterbacks, I could see him progressing and becoming the quarterback that I think he can be."

One thing Quinn is absolutely correct about is the size of Allar compared to Roethlisberger. In fact, Allar is 6-foot-5, which is the same height that Roethlisberger is listed as. One difference already that exists between the two, is Roethlisberger was drafted 11th overall in the 2004 draft, whereas Allar was selected with less of a risk, coming two rounds later in the 2026 draft. 

The legendary quarterback was the third quarterback taken overall, and went on to win two Super Bowls in the Steel City, while also setting several team records.

Steelers Could Prove Doubters Wrong With Allar Selection

One thing new head coach Mike McCarthy is well-known for is his ability to develop quarterbacks, especially younger ones. He has also coached the likes of Rodgers before in the NFL, as well as Brett Favre during his lengthy coaching career. Roethlisberger was drafted by Pittsburgh out of the University of Miami (OH), a team that is in the MAC conference and does not typically play in big games. While Allar has been highly criticized for his failure to rise to the occasion in big games, the franchise did take a chance on Roethlisberger, who did not get the chance to even play in those big games.

This is where the organization has a chance to prove Allar's doubters completely wrong with their selection. While the comparison Quinn made would make for some big shoes for Allar to fill, he still could be a very productive NFL quarterback. One other NFL quarterback that comes to mind who did not play in high profile games is Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who played at Wyoming. Despite that, Allen is widely recognized as one of the top quarterbacks in all of the NFL.

While the praise for Allar comes from him being big and physical, with the knock being critical mistakes in massive games, McCarthy's history may allow for the perfect opportunity for him to learn and blossom into a legitimate NFL quarterback. While it would be hard to live up to the billing of Roethlisberger or Allen, Allar still could find his own benchmarks of success at the pro level. If there is one person that would know what he can do physically, it would be Quinn who is actively involved with the Big Ten Conference every Saturday in the fall as mentioned.

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