The Pittsburgh Steelers made one of the NFL's most unusual roster decisions by keeping four quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph provide veteran stability, while Will Howard and Drew Allar represent possible answers beyond the 2026 season. Rodgers believes both young passers earned the organization's commitment.
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Steelers' Will Howard throws the football during training camp in 2026 as Drew Allar looks on.
Carrying four quarterbacks forces Pittsburgh to sacrifice depth elsewhere. Neither Howard nor Allar is expected to play meaningful snaps while Rodgers remains healthy. However, exposing either passer to waivers risked losing a potential successor prematurely.
Rodgers addressed that tradeoff while speaking with reporters on Wednesday. The four-time NFL MVP admitted he had never experienced this roster construction before, but supported Pittsburgh's decision because he considers every member of the quarterback room worthy of a place among the team's best players.
"I don't think I have been on a roster with four quarterbacks," Rodgers said while speaking with Mark Kaboly. "Obviously, if you do that, then you're taking away a roster spot from another place on the team. But at the same time, if the best 53 are going to make it, and that's saying they did, I think those four are part of the best 53."
That endorsement matters because Rodgers understands the cost. A fourth quarterback removes a reserve offensive lineman, defensive back, linebacker or special teams contributor who might provide more immediate game-day value. Pittsburgh accepted that short-term limitation to protect two players who could shape its future.
Howard entered the organization as a sixth-round selection in 2025. His second training camp showed meaningful progress, even if his preseason included turnovers and uneven stretches. Allar arrived as the 76th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. His third-round status made attempting to move him through waivers an unnecessary gamble.
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Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during 2025 training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.
Rodgers was not surprised that both survived the cutdown. He pointed toward Howard's year-to-year development and Allar's combination of draft value and encouraging practice work.
"With the growth you saw from Will, and also from Drew being drafted so high, but also playing well in camp, I'm not surprised at all," Rodgers said. "I'm excited about those guys' futures."
Rodgers watched Pittsburgh's final preseason game from home as Howard and Allar handled every quarterback snap against the Buffalo Bills. The performance gave each player valuable experience while allowing the Steelers to compare their command of Mike McCarthy's offense under game pressure.
Neither prospect produced a flawless audition. Rodgers joked that he would keep some of his television reactions private, but his overall evaluation remained strongly positive. The game never appeared too fast or overwhelming for either young quarterback.
"I thought the entire camp was never too big for them," Rodgers said. "They looked very comfortable out there, and I thought they did a lot of good things moving the football and being efficient. Learning experiences, but look at my first preseason. It was not pretty at all. I didn't play well until about the second half of the fourth preseason game."
Rodgers then made his most fascinating comparison. Rather than holding Howard and Allar against an impossible Hall of Fame standard, he acknowledged that both are further along than he was during his first NFL preseason.
"They're definitely ahead of where I was," Rodgers said. "Mentally, they're grasping the offense, the checks and the cans. I'm really proud of both those guys."
Steelers Are Protecting Their Future Behind Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers' comparison does not guarantee that Howard or Allar will become a franchise quarterback. Early command of an offense represents only one part of NFL development. Both must continue improving their accuracy, decision-making and ability to respond when defenses disrupt the original plan.
Keeping both gives Pittsburgh time to make that evaluation properly. Rodgers can teach the details of preparation and defensive recognition, while Rudolph provides another veteran example inside the room. Howard and Allar now have an entire season to develop without being forced into a premature competition.
Which young passer gives Pittsburgh the better chance of finding its eventual successor to Rodgers: Howard or Allar? Join the quarterback debate with me on X (@anthonyghalkias), and follow me for continued Steelers coverage as the regular season approaches.
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