Going into the 2026 offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers were once again in search of a starting quarterback. With the uncertainty surrounding Aaron Rodgers following the humiliating loss in the Wild Card Round to the Houston Texans, the team didn't bite on any of the free agent quarterbacks, instead adding one in the NFL Draft after selecting Drew Allar in the third round. This was a risk that would pay off for the organization, with Rodgers eventually re-signing in May. This leaves the team with four quarterbacks on the roster. Will Howard was thought by many to be the long-term plan, but the selection of Allar makes things interesting.
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The Steelers quarterbacks participate in Organized Team Activities at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex in 2026.
It's not often that a team carries four quarterbacks, especially in the Steelers' case with two young, promising signal-callers. Allar displays limitless talent, but lacks consistency in his mechanics and decision-making. Howard seemingly isn't as talented as Allar, but is steadier than the former Penn State Nittany Lions standout, and already has a year of mental reps behind a future Hall of Famer. Howard is currently battling with Mason Rudolph for the QB2 spot, while Allar will likely redshirt in his rookie season.
With the crowded quarterback room, many wondered how all four men would get enough reps in training camp. Typically, only the top three QBs get substantial reps, but in Mike McCarthy's camp, things are a little different. McCarthy has found a way to ensure the young bucks get an appropriate number of reps alongside Rudolph and Rodgers, thereby furthering their development process.
Steelers insider Mark Kaboly recently wrote an article about training camp through the midway point. Kaboly mentions McCarthy's strategy of reps for the young QBs: having two fields going at once, with the first and second teams on one field and the third and fourth teams on another. This makes sure that his young signal-callers are prepared for the upcoming preseason matchup.
"McCarthy having two fields going at once has allowed Allar and Howard to get plenty of reps. So, those who thought that was going to be a problem when it comes to development, well, you were wrong. It’s almost like McCarthy knows what he is doing," Kaboly wrote.
While the organization is focused on the upcoming season, it understands Rodgers won't be a Steeler forever and is preparing accordingly. There's no guarantee they draft a quarterback in the first round of the 2027 NFL Draft, so they must prepare Howard and Allar as much as possible. Neither player has taken an NFL snap yet (in the regular season or the preseason), with Howard missing the 2025 preseason due to injury. Because of this, they need all of the snaps they can get, even if it's just practice.
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Steelers' Will Howard speaks with Offensive Coordinator Brian Angelichio during training camp ahead of the 2026 season.
McCarthy has always been a smart coach, especially in his approach to developing quarterbacks. He's had great success in the past, and now fans in Steeler Nation are seeing his plan for Howard and Allar firsthand. The Steelers' first preseason game is right around the corner, where both men will take their first snaps in the Black and Gold. McCarthy will get to see his work on those two after all the reps they've been getting in camp.
Steelers' McCarthy Will Have Howard And Allar Prepared
While neither of the young QBs are overperforming in practice, they are both miles better than they previously were. Allar is already putting his new mechanics to work, while Howard is showing improvement in his huddle command. They won't be hit in practice, so there's no real pressure, but it's a great sign that both players are flourishing under McCarthy and his scheme.
Howard is in an active position battle with Rudolph for the QB2 spot as mentioned, but is still not expected to play this season (the same goes for Allar). Both players were thought to be a long way away from being ready to start an NFL game, but a week into training camp, they may be closer than people think. All eyes will be on both Howard and Allar come August 13th, when they will likely play lots of minutes in the first preseason game.
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