The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback room has turned into one of the most interesting groups in the entire NFL this spring. Aaron Rodgers is back for what he confirmed will be his final season. The third-round addition of Drew Allar has created a four-man unit that also includes Mason Rudolph and second-year pro Will Howard.
New head coach Mike McCarthy stood in front of reporters on Wednesday and smiled at the situation. He called it a good problem to have.
“We’ve definitely got four that we love, I can say that. You always have to develop the room. That’s always been the approach. We’re hoping that (general manager) Omar (Khan) can get the roster expanded to 55 and we can keep four. It’s a really good room. This is a good place to be, having four guys that can play.”
— Mike McCarthy, Steelers head coach
Rodgers, 42, is the clear starter. Everyone knows that. The real work starts behind him.
Rudolph remains the most experienced option if Rodgers misses time. He has played meaningful snaps before and understands what it takes to run an offense in a pinch. Many around the team see him as the safest veteran insurance policy.
Will Howard has climbed the depth chart in recent weeks. He earned second-team reps early in OTAs after a quiet rookie year that included no regular-season snaps. The staff has praised his progress and command.
Drew Allar, the Penn State product taken at No. 76 overall, sits behind Howard for now. McCarthy made that clear. “Will is ahead of Drew, just based on the fact that he’s been here.” Allar is already receiving a mechanics tune-up from the new coaching staff, and the Steelers have every intention of developing him.
Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio explained how the staff plans to handle the numbers.
“One thing coach McCarthy talks about is the development training of the quarterbacks. I think with the system that’s in place here, it’s great that we have four quarterbacks. It’s something that we’re really excited about. We have a good plan of how we are going to get those guys reps, so they all can continue to develop.”
— Brian Angelichio, Steelers offensive coordinator
Rodgers’ deep familiarity with McCarthy’s offense — the two won a Super Bowl together in Green Bay — gives the staff flexibility most teams lack. They can rotate reps more freely without leaving the starter unprepared.
Most teams carry two or three. Four eats into roster spots that could go to depth at other positions. The Steelers would love to cut one of the younger players and stash him on the practice squad. The risk? Another team could claim him off waivers and steal a piece of the future.
McCarthy has never started a season with four quarterbacks on his active roster. He has carried three in most of his previous stops. This group would rank among the least experienced backup trios of his career if Rudolph is the one who moves on.
Training camp and the preseason will decide everything. The competition on the field, the way reps are distributed, and how each quarterback handles live bullets will shape the final 53-man roster.
For now, Pittsburgh sits in an enviable spot few teams reach: a proven veteran who knows the system paired with two young players the organization clearly believes in. The challenge is simple math and roster construction. The reward is a quarterback room that can develop talent while protecting the present.
The next few months will show whether the Steelers can keep all four or whether one will have to find a new home.
