The Pittsburgh Steelers have had one of the more interesting quarterback situations in the NFL over the last few years. It has been a revolving door of veteran quarterbacks, but the 2026 season offers the first chance for stability at the position in a long time due to the fact that Aaron Rodgers is returning. If he stays healthy throughout training camp and is the team's starter for the first week of the season, it will break the streak of the franchise having a different starting quarterback in Week 1 that has been going since the start of the 2021 season.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mike McCarthy reunites with quarterback Aaron Rodgers during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) during the 2026 offseason.
To begin Organized Team Activities (OTAs), based on recent reporting, the pecking order in the quarterback room seems to be Rodgers, Will Howard, Mason Rudolph, and then rookie Drew Allar. This isn't too surprising, although nothing is official and a lot can change in the next few months before the regular season. Teams typically only keep three quarterbacks on the roster going into the regular season, and it is fair to assume that Rodgers and Allar have their spots. The final spot could come down to Howard or Rudolph, and Rudolph spoke to the media after practice on Wednesday about his role in Pittsburgh.
Mason Rudolph: "I'm here to learn this offense. My plan's to be here and to be on this team and to help in whatever fashion I can and will."
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) May 20, 2026
Rudolph made it clear that he plans to be on the roster once the 2026 season starts, and is willing to do whatever it takes while taking on whatever role the franchise needs him to. There remains a real chance he will either be released or traded, and that would probably be the right move for the organization. Keeping both Howard and Allar behind Rodgers should be what the team wants to do, despite the fact that neither player has any experience on an NFL field.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
The coaching staff in Pittsburgh has spoken highly of Howard throughout the 2026 offseason, and that praise has continued now that the players are actually on the practice field. Allar was also just drafted by the team in the third round, and it has been reported that he was hand-picked by new head coach Mike McCarthy. This has led many to believe that both of those young quarterbacks will be on the roster in 2026, with Rudolph being the odd man out.
Rudolph's experience as a backup is important to plenty of teams, and having a player with his experience to back up Rodgers would be nice. However, the franchise has to consider its future at the position. Both Howard and Allar could have great potential, and that should be prioritized. Rudolph has had his chances to start in Pittsburgh and with the Tennessee Titans, and he has shown nothing that proves he is more than a backup that can spot start for a few weeks.
Steelers Have A Few Options When It Comes To Mason Rudolph
Nothing is set in stone when it comes to the quarterback room, but if things do play out in a way where Rudolph is on the outside looking in, the franchise has a few routes it could take to part ways with the veteran backup. One of those routes is making a trade. His experience as a backup is valuable to teams around the league, and there is reason to believe another team could offer a late-round pick or a decent pick-swap for Rudolph's services.
Jessie Rogers / Tennessee Titans
Steelers QB Mason Rudolph during OTAs with the Titans in 2024.
This could especially come to fruition if some injuries happen at the quarterback position around the league. The other route to consider is just releasing Rudolph, which could be the most likely option as the Steelers probably won't have much leverage when it comes to trading him away.
What do you think about these comments from Rudolph? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
#SteelerNation