Steelers Gain New Interesting Path To Solving Their QB Situation

The Pittsburgh Steelers approach the 2026 season with a unique conundrum at the quarterback position. After a year with Aaron Rodgers under center for most of the campaign (with a start from Mason Rudolph due to a Rodgers wrist injury), the Steelers now have those two, along with 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard, and 2026 third-round pick Drew Allar. The most interesting part of this situation is who will back up Rodgers. There's a level of risk involved with handing the keys to two signal-callers with zero NFL snaps, but keeping Rudolph could force Howard into a situation where he is cut, or placed on the practice squad (should he clear waivers). 

It's pretty atypical for a team to keep four quarterbacks on a roster, as it impedes valuable depth at other positions. With Rodgers already announcing that this will be his last season however, and the Steelers needing to head into a future with some young talent to choose from, this is where things get complicated. Pittsburgh believes they can win now with Rodgers, but if he were to get hurt, and they want to keep winning, Rudolph is a proven backup and a reliable choice to fill-in. However, looking ahead, Howard and Allar are both intriguing options for 2027. 

The battle for the number two spot in 2026 currently rests on Howard and Rudolph, and training camp will play a huge factor in that decision. However, if the Steelers really want to keep four QBs, there is a way to do that. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ray Fittipaldo explained how the Black and Gold could pull this off in one of his recent Steelers chats. 

"They can place Allar on IR for six weeks and then make a call on Rudolph or Howard after that. If I had to guess, that's how I think it plays out. But remember, injuries happen. Fans tend to worry about this stuff far more than coaches and front office people do. It will sort itself out in early September," Fittipaldo wrote. 

This is a pretty different way of handling the situation. There has been a ton of buzz and scenarios about how the Steelers brass could handle this, but this plan is realistic. Stashing Allar on the IR makes sense, so coaches can isolate the choice down to Rudolph and Howard. Rudolph has plenty of experience with the organization and has been very reliable in relief. However, there could be some untapped potential in Howard. Of course, all of this only works if Allar is seriously hurt before the regular season begins.

Training camp is coming up quickly, and the backup quarterback competition will be in full swing. Those reps could tell a story about where the young gunslingers stand. The Steelers know what they have in Rudolph, but seeing how Howard has progressed will be vital. The most important part of the offseason for Howard will be the preseason. Pittsburgh will get a long look at how he can command the offense, make checks at the line, and his overall play in general. This could be the make-or-break point for the two QBs looking to be a future Hall of Famer's backup in 2026. 

What Exactly Does Howard Need To Showcase For The Steelers?

Howard is a proven winner. He won a College Football Playoff championship with Ohio State University and has the physical frame to be a dominant NFL quarterback. The biggest issue coming out of college was his arm strength, but if he can make some big completions in the preseason, limit turnovers, and be the leader that he is praised for being, then he could be in line to thrive in Pittsburgh.

The risk is certainly there, having two young players as backup quarterbacks, but keeping four in any capacity is very difficult -- especially through a grueling season. A decision doesn't have to come immediately, but it'll have to come at some point soon.

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