The Pittsburgh Steelers have consistency and continuity at the quarterback position for the first time in a long time as Aaron Rodgers decided to return for his second season as the starter in Pittsburgh. He has already made it clear that he plans to retire after the 2026 season is over with, which means the future of the position is in limbo. This is something the organization is used to at this point. The quarterback room behind Rodgers is interesting with an experienced veteran backup in Mason Rudolph, and then two young, developmental quarterbacks in Will Howard and Drew Allar.
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Steelers' Mike McCarthy speaks to the media during mandatory minicamp in 2026.
Head Coach Mike McCarthy is known for how good he is when it comes to working with and developing young quarterbacks, which is why having developmental talent at the position is very important. Howard and Allar are also the only quarterbacks currently under contract for the 2027 season in Pittsburgh. This means there is a good chance that one of them is going to have the chance to start once that season comes around. A lot can change before then, as Howard's roster spot might even be in jeopardy for 2026.
Rodgers and Allar's spots on the roster are seemingly safe, while Howard and Rudolph are thought to be fighting for the backup job. There is a chance the team keeps four quarterbacks on the final roster, but that is unlikely and unorthodox. There is a world where whoever loses the backup job between Rudolph and Howard is traded or cut. McCarthy spoke to the media on Thursday, and he had a few comments where he was praising Rudolph.
"Mason Rudolph, I can't tell you how pleased I am with him," McCarthy said. "He throws the ball better than I thought. He's been impressive."
Howard has become a fan favorite in Pittsburgh, and a lot of fans are also tired of Rudolph. He has shown that he will likely never be anything more than a career backup quarterback. He is often praised as one of the best backups in the league, but that is debatable. His play has been shaky aside from his heroic run to end the 2023 regular season.
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Steelers' quarterbacks Will Howard (left) and Mason Rudolph (right) during voluntary minicamp on April 21, 2026.
At this point, the Steelers need as many chances as possible when it comes to the quarterback position. The franchise should find a way to keep four players there, but if it doesn't, it is time to move on from Rudolph, not Howard. Howard and Allar can both have a chance to start in 2027, while people already know what Rudolph looks like as a potential starter. The organization cannot give up on a young player in lieu of Rudolph.
The main thought behind keeping Rudolph around is that he has NFL experience, while Howard and Allar have never been on an NFL field during the preseason, let alone a regular season game. The franchise being in "win now" mode supports the argument for Rudolph in case Rodgers goes down, but any realistic fan knows the organization could be viewing their current situation as completely wrong.
Steelers Could Be Propping Mason Rudolph Up
Whenever a coach speaks to the media, it is always important to think about all the possible angles he could be taking. In this case, McCarthy could be propping Rudolph up to the media. This could inflate the league's perception of him, which could then lead to the organization being able to trade him once camp starts to wind down. It is better to keep the two younger quarterbacks, and finding a way to get a Day 3 pick in return for Rudolph would be an ideal situation. If nothing can come together via trade, keeping four quarterbacks going into the regular season might not be a bad idea.
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