Steelers' Mike McCarthy Makes Intriguing Move With Will Howard And Drew Allar

All of the quarterback attention surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers right now isn’t just focused on Aaron Rodgers. That’s what makes the 2026 season such a fascinating and polarizing one for Pittsburgh. Rodgers entering what he has already said will be his final NFL season should be the biggest storyline, and rightfully so. The future Hall of Famer has made it clear he plans to retire after this year, putting the Steelers in a unique position with a veteran quarterback trying to make one final run.

Regardless of how much Rodgers dominates the headlines, another quarterback storyline continues to grow in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are also developing two young options in Will Howard and Drew Allar, giving the franchise a potential look at life after Rodgers. Both quarterbacks came with relatively low-risk investments, with Howard selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and Allar coming off the board in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

While Mike McCarthy was the one who originally drafted Allar and not Howard, that does not appear to change how much attention he is giving both young quarterbacks. McCarthy has continued to spend extra time working with the pair, showing that the Steelers are clearly interested in finding out what they have in their young signal-callers.

That was highlighted by a recent observation from Steelers beat writer Chris Adamiski, who noted a 'very telling' moment during practice. While Rodgers and Mason Rudolph were working on one field, McCarthy made his way over to the second field to spend more time with Howard and Allar. As Adamiski explained, the move offered an interesting glimpse into how Pittsburgh is balancing the present with the future at quarterback.

"In a telling sign, McCarthy is on the 'second field' so he can get more hands-on with the 3rd-team offense -- surely as a way to work more with Will Howard and Drew Allar," Adamiski wrote.

That moment does not necessarily mean that either Howard nor Allar is ready to take over anytime soon. Rodgers remains the clear focus of Pittsburgh’s 2026 season, and the team believes his experience gives it the best chance to compete right now. McCarthy knows what he has in Rodgers. He wants to look at his young options and see what he has in them this camp.

The extra attention being given to Howard and Allar shows the Steelers are also thinking beyond the upcoming season. Developing young quarterbacks while having a veteran like Rodgers in the building gives Pittsburgh a rare opportunity to evaluate the future without rushing the process.

"Mike McCarthy is again doing the dual fields of 11-on-11," Adamski wrote. "Today has been a very light contact practice (not even any helmets) -- but it has been virtually ALL 'team drills' (11 on 11)."

McCarthy’s willingness to spend extra time with Howard and Allar is something worth monitoring throughout training camp. The Steelers are clearly trying to maximize every opportunity they have with their young quarterbacks, and having Rodgers around only adds more value to that development process.

Steelers Quarterback Situation Remains Multi-Layered

For now, Rodgers remains the headline, but the bigger picture in Pittsburgh is much more complicated. The Steelers are preparing for the present while quietly building toward the future, and Howard and Allar are two names who could become much bigger parts of the conversation down the road.

The quarterback situation in Pittsburgh has more layers than it has had in years, and McCarthy’s actions on the practice field are only adding more intrigue. As the season approaches, every rep, every decision, and every development with this quarterback room will be worth watching.

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