The Pittsburgh Steelers have been stuck in quarterback purgatory ever since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. The organization did not have a great plan for life after Roethlisberger, and the franchise has been piecing things together at the position ever since. The solution has often been signing veterans, and Aaron Rodgers is returning in 2026 for his second season with the team and his final season in the NFL. He has already made it clear he will be retiring after the 2026 season comes to a close, which means Pittsburgh will be in the market for a new starter in 2027.
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Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy stands in front of the media to answer questions as the team goes through 2026 mandatory minicamp workouts in Pittsburgh, PA.
This consistent quarterback dilemma is the main reason that the organization hired Mike McCarthy as the new head coach in Pittsburgh. His hiring broke a ton of trends for the franchise, but he has always been known for his ability to work with and develop quarterbacks. He worked with a young Rodgers when the two were with the Green Bay Packers, and that seemed to pay off nicely for all parties involved. Now McCarthy is working with two young quarterbacks in Pittsburgh in Will Howard and Drew Allar, and both are going through the "McCarthy QB School".
Beat writer Mike DeFabo called into the DVE Morning Show to share what he has been seeing at training camp, and he noted what has been interesting about watching McCarthy work with Allar.
"Drew Allar is really the guy that I am interested to see how this works with him," DeFabo said. "The biggest knock on him coming out of college was his footwork; the biggest point of emphasis for Mike McCarthy is the footwork. The way that I look at it, with Drew Allar, you go, this guy with all this raw ability, great arm talent, but it's just not harnessed. For me, I feel like because he has a coach that is so detailed with the footwork, it's like he is putting guardrails on. It's like he's bumper bowling now, putting this train on a track. Basically, when you give this guy a structure, then the natural ability can really shine."
Allar was the first of Pittsburgh's three third-round picks in 2026, and he was approved by McCarthy. The head coach wants to be able to turn him into a player that can be a starter in the NFL. He has the raw skills. His arm is huge, he can improvise in the pocket, and he was considered to be a first-round pick. His college career didn't end well, which led to him sliding down the draft board.
Jared Wickerham / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers quarterback Drew Allar walks out on stage during the third day of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
The future of the quarterback position remains uncertain in Pittsburgh, but both Allar and Howard are under contract in 2027. They are each being developed in hopes that one can blossom into a starter, while selecting another rookie is probably an option as well. Allar has already been impressive through training camp, and it seems like the things he might be learning from McCarthy are helping greatly.
Steelers' Drew Allar Has Plenty Of People To Lean On
McCarthy's quarterback school is going to help Allar refine all of his skills and hopefully help him become a better quarterback, but he has other resources to help him out as well. The top one is of course Rodgers. Howard and Allar are both very lucky to be able to learn from a four-time league MVP and future Hall of Famer, and Rodgers' experience in McCarthy's offense should ease the transition to the pros for Allar. Fans probably won't see much of the young quarterback once the regular season rolls around, but there is a chance he could be lining up under center in Week 1 of the 2027 season.
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