Steelers Coach Tom Arth Details Mike McCarthy's Rare Level Of QB Coaching Involvement

Pittsburgh Steelers fans have not always had full confidence in the team’s ability to develop a long-term franchise quarterback. Mike Tomlin inherited Ben Roethlisberger and, following his retirement, the organization struggled to find the next true answer under center. Now, with Mike McCarthy at the helm, there is a different sense of direction. McCarthy brings a proven track record of developing quarterbacks, though the challenge ahead remains significant with both Drew Allar and Will Howard in the system.

The Steelers’ quarterback room for the 2026 season includes starter Aaron Rodgers, with Mason Rudolph expected to serve as the primary backup. Behind them, Allar and Howard will compete to see if either can emerge as a long-term solution for the franchise. There are mixed opinions on whether that will ultimately be possible, especially considering Howard was a sixth-round pick and Allar was a third-round selection. Still, both players have upside, even if the path to becoming the future starter is an uphill battle.

Steelers QB coach Tom Arth previously worked under Tomlin, a head coach not particularly known for his quarterback development expertise. Now, Arth spoke with Chris Adamski about the benefit of working alongside a head coach who is highly involved in quarterback coaching and development such as McCarthy.

"Coach McCarthy really, it is a blessing for me as a QB coach and someone who did play the position," Arth said. "Just the level of thought that he puts into that group. Really, it starts with how we do everything. How is this going to affect our QB? How is this going to impact QBs and development? Everything we do is with that premise. How do we make the QB successful? The level of detail that goes into coaching the position to coaching the offensive system I think is really unique, and it is certainly helping benefit each of the QBs in our room. It has helped me as a coach as well, just being able to coach to those details."

There is a clear sense of confidence coming from Arth now that he is working alongside McCarthy, a coach widely respected for his quarterback background and offensive expertise. Arth is not taking any shots at Tomlin, but he is acknowledging a reality that many around the league have long understood. 

Under Tomlin, the Steelers often had to navigate the difficult challenge of developing a quarterback without a head coach who specialized in that area. It made the path to finding and nurturing a long-term answer at the position more complicated than in most organizations.

Steelers Now Have A New Level Of Optimism

With McCarthy now leading the way, the outlook feels different. There is a belief that he has been in these situations before and understands what it takes to guide quarterbacks at every stage of their development. His track record is often tied to Dak Prescott, a fourth-round pick who rose quickly and became a steady starter in the league. While some debate how much of Prescott’s development was natural progression versus coaching influence, there is no denying McCarthy helped him sustain and grow into a high-level NFL quarterback.

That kind of presence matters in Pittsburgh, especially with two young developmental quarterbacks in Howard and Allar. Both bring upside but remain works in progress. For Arth, having a head coach who is directly involved and detail-oriented with quarterbacks creates a level of optimism that simply was not there before.

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