Steelers' Drew Allar Is Enthusiastic To Learn From Future HOF QB Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have overcome their quarterback uncertainty that shrouded the early parts of the 2026 offseason. The team has once again elected to sign Aaron Rodgers to start under center, and the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer will spend his final NFL season in the Steel City. With the Black and Gold going all in on 2026, they've looked into the future at several key positions, including at quarterback. With two young signal-callers behind Rodgers, his mentoring will prove to be vital. 

The Steelers are no strangers to an ever-changing quarterback position. Since Ben Roethlisberger's retirement, the team has used various veteran Band-Aids under center. However, now that the organization is aware of Rodgers' impending retirement, they know the time is now to prepare for the future. In the 2026 NFL Draft, the Steelers brass went with an intriguing, raw prospect in Penn State University's Drew Allar. The third-round pick joins a rather crowded quarterback group that features Rodgers, 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard, and veteran backup Mason Rudolph. With Allar being a work in progress, he'll have plenty of opportunities to learn from the vets in front of him and have some friendly competition from a young gunslinger in Howard. 

A key element to Allar's development is being a sponge to the four-time MVP, Rodgers. Allar will undergo the new head coach Mike McCarthy's "quarterback school" in hopes of refining areas of improvement, like his footwork. Already, the rookie signal-caller has leaned on Rodgers for guidance. He spoke in an interview after an Organized Team Activities (OTAs) practice about how essential Rodgers has already been for him. 93.7 The Fan posted the snippet on X. 

"[Rodgers] pulled me aside during practice to talk through some drill work or things to focus on during different drills, and the film room, just asking me questions about what I was seeing and why. Just giving me a lot of knowledge. I'm really excited to keep learning from him. Obviously, he's one of the best to ever do it in this game, so the opportunity I have is one I'm not gonna take for granted," Allar said. 

Allar learning from Rodgers will be integral for his development. Even though McCarthy has been very hands-on so far with the quarterback group, a different voice will only give him a new perspective on the game. Rodgers is known for showing his teammates some tough love, but he has expectations for his peers and this will go a long way for the young quarterback. 

One of the gripes coming out of college about Allar was his wonky footwork. He has a cannon of an arm, but some of what should be routine throws were often inaccurate. Under Rodgers and McCarthy, the hope is to really unlock the potential that Allar showed throughout his time in Happy Valley. Throughout rookie minicamp and OTAs, the rookie has gotten some solid reps, and with training camp and the preseason to follow, he'll have the chance to continue building upon what he's learned so far. 

Steelers Should Be Excited By Allar's Willingness To Learn

Rodgers came out and said that he was willing to mentor Pittsburgh's young quarterbacks if they were receptive. Allar and Howard have proven that they want to get better, as they seem to be part of the Steelers' plans at the position. Allar needs to soak up all the coaching he can, as the third-round pick status looms. He could be called upon, and accelerating his progression will only help the Steelers. 

The Steelers know that they have a big decision to make at quarterback, and the gunslinger Allar will be a big factor there. The team is set up to develop quarterbacks, and Allar is just a piece of the puzzle. 

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