The Pittsburgh Steelers went into Organized Team Activities this offseason with a major battle in the quarterback room. This will be the last NFL season for veteran Aaron Rodgers, as he is set to retire after this year, but he is once again slated in as the starter. This is his exit tour and he's looking to go out in a big way with the coach he won the Super Bowl with back in 2011. Rodgers and Mike McCarthy have a big season approaching, but the situation behind Rodgers on the depth chart has a very uncertain future.
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Aaron Rodgers works alongside Mike McCarthy during OTAs for the Steelers at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in 2026.
In the last two NFL Drafts, the Steelers brought in young stars from the Big Ten Conference in Will Howard and Drew Allar. While Allar costed a higher draft pick than Howard, there are no guarantees that Allar earns the backup job over him. In fact, there's a chance that neither of them win the backup job and are extremely limited in reps they receive this year.
Steelers reporter Mike Prisuta recently spoke about this on the Steel City Insider podcast with Jim Wexell. He doesn't think either of these young quarterbacks will earn the backup jobs behind Rodgers. While a strong preseason performance could change that, as of now, that's his bold stance on the depth chart.
"I can’t see how either one of them would," Prisuta stated. "Well, I mean let’s see how it plays out. Maybe one of them gets hurt again. Maybe one of them stinks so bad in the preseason, they just decided, whoops swing and a miss."
So if it's not Allar or Howard, the backup job would go to veteran quarterback Mason Rudolph. He had that job in 2025 and started against the Chicago Bears after Rodgers suffered a wrist injury the week prior. While Rudolph isn't the worst option, it limits the exposure from either of these young quarterbacks down the road. To develop into a potential franchise quarterback, these guys will need game reps. While they would get them during the preseason, meaningful reps during the regular season would be very crucial in their developments.
Jordan Perez / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' Mason Rudolph during mandatory minicamp in 2026.
On top of this idea, it presents the notion that one of Howard or Allar could get cut. It would be difficult to hold four quarterbacks all season. This would make it more tough to have depth in other areas on the field. In addition, Rudolph has an average annual value of $3.75 million with just one year left on his contract. Some have talked about how great of a leader he is and we've seen for years the production on the field, but thinking about the future, hanging onto him is a bold idea.
Getting rid of that money on the payroll would help the Steelers with their pursuits to extend Joey Porter Jr. and Keeanu Benton as well. Despite more experience in the league than Howard and Allar, moving on would save money and allow these two younger QBs to get quality reps, in the event that Rodgers gets hurt (or if there's a blowout game).
This idea opens up big questions that'll need answered before the season. Who will get cut? Will the Steelers roll with four quarterbacks? Is this enough to trust either Howard or Allar in 2027? The decision between this quarterback room will play a big role within the organization for this season and down the road.
Steelers May Roll With Mason Rudolph As Backup Again
If what Prisuta thinks about the Steelers' quarterback room comes to fruition, it may open up a big quarterback issue next season. If Rudolph does win the backup job again, Pittsburgh will have a reliable option in 2026, but it may cost one of their young quarterbacks.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers quarterbacks Will Howard (left) and Mason Rudolph (right) during voluntary minicamp on April 21, 2026.
Keep an eye out for what the future holds of this quarterback room.
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