Steelers keep four quarterbacks
The Steelers are heading into the 2026 season with an unusual amount of quarterback depth. Aaron Rodgers remains at the center of the room, but Pittsburgh also held onto several intriguing options behind the veteran.
The roster decision could shape how the team handles its quarterbacks throughout the season. So, who made the cut, and what does the final quarterback room reveal about Pittsburgh’s plans?
Aaron Rodgers returned for another season
The Steelers signed Rodgers to a one-year contract on May 18, bringing him back for his second season in Pittsburgh. The agreement followed Rodgers’ offseason decision to continue his NFL career under new head coach Mike McCarthy.
Rodgers appeared in 16 games and started all 16 for Pittsburgh in 2025, completing 327 of 498 passes for 3,322 yards. He threw 24 touchdown passes and seven interceptions during that season.
Rodgers remains the listed starter
Pittsburgh’s first depth chart of 2026 listed Rodgers as the starting quarterback, followed by Rudolph, Howard and Allar. The depth chart was released Aug. 5 after the team completed its first week of training camp.
Head coach Mike McCarthy said Rodgers would receive the first-team repetitions when camp began. Rudolph started with the second group, while Howard and Allar worked with the third group.
Mason Rudolph stayed in Pittsburgh
Rudolph remained on the Steelers’ roster after competing for the backup quarterback position during training camp. The veteran entered 2026 with experience in Pittsburgh and was listed second behind Rodgers on the depth chart.
Rudolph has spent multiple seasons with the Steelers and returned to the organization for 2025. His retention gave Pittsburgh another experienced quarterback behind Rodgers as the team finalized its roster.
Will Howard also made the roster
Will Howard earned a spot on Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster after competing throughout training camp and preseason. The Steelers selected Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, making 2026 his second season.
Howard received preseason opportunities while competing with Rudolph and Allar for a roster position. He was evaluated for a potential head injury after Pittsburgh’s preseason finale against Buffalo on Aug. 27.
Drew Allar remained part of the group
Drew Allar, Pittsburgh’s third-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, also made the initial 53-man roster. The former Penn State quarterback joined the Steelers as one of two young quarterbacks competing for a role behind Rodgers.
Allar made his preseason debut against Green Bay and accounted for three touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s 28-9 victory. He finished the preseason competition with a place on the active roster.
The team protected both young quarterbacks
Pittsburgh’s decision to retain Howard and Allar avoided exposing either young quarterback to the waiver process. Releasing either player could have let another team claim him before Pittsburgh could add him to practice squad.
NFL reporting noted that the roster choice preserved the Steelers’ control over both young quarterbacks. General manager Omar Khan said the team liked the room and wanted to keep the group together.
McCarthy expected four quarterbacks
Before the final roster was announced, Mike McCarthy indicated that keeping four quarterbacks was a likely outcome. Pittsburgh ultimately retained Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar on its initial 53-man roster.
The Steelers officially finalized their initial 53-man roster on Aug. 30, confirming that all four quarterbacks would enter the regular season on the active roster.
Interesting fact: The Steelers have drafted 27 quarterbacks since the 1970 NFL Draft. That group includes Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw and longtime Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
The preseason shaped the quarterback decision
All three quarterbacks behind Rodgers received preseason playing time while competing for roster positions. Allar produced three touchdowns in the preseason opener against Green Bay, and Howard also saw preseason action.
The Steelers used the preseason to evaluate their younger quarterbacks alongside Rudolph. By the final roster deadline, the organization chose to keep all three behind Rodgers rather than remove one from the 53-man roster.
Interesting fact: Pittsburgh has won six Super Bowl championships. The Steelers became the first NFL franchise to reach six Super Bowl victories when they defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII following the 2008 season.
The quarterback room uses four roster spots
Keeping four quarterbacks means Pittsburgh’s initial 53-man roster allocated four spots to the position. The team listed 26 offensive players overall, including the four quarterbacks, when its initial roster was announced.
The four-man quarterback group consists of Rodgers, Rudolph, Howard and Allar. The Steelers’ official roster announcement confirmed all four names rather than identifying a quarterback as a cut or practice-squad addition.
Rodgers’ 2026 contract is for one year
Rodgers signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh on May 18, 2026, covering the 2026 season. The Steelers announced his return after Rodgers decided he wanted to continue playing after offseason discussions with McCarthy.
The quarterback had signed with Pittsburgh as an unrestricted free agent in 2025. His return created a second season in which Rodgers and Rudolph were joined by younger quarterbacks.
The move came before the regular season
The four-quarterback decision was made when Pittsburgh finalized its initial 53-man roster on Aug. 30. The Steelers’ regular-season opener is scheduled for Sept. 13 against the Atlanta Falcons at Acrisure Stadium.
The team’s initial depth chart lists Rodgers first, Rudolph second, Howard third, and Allar fourth. That order reflects the official depth chart released by Pittsburgh before the roster was finalized.
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Pittsburgh enters 2026 with four quarterbacks
The Steelers ultimately chose to begin the 2026 season with Rodgers, Rudolph, Howard, and Allar on the initial 53-man roster. The move followed Rodgers’ one-year return and the preseason evaluation of the three other quarterbacks.
Pittsburgh’s official roster and depth-chart announcements establish the current quarterback structure entering September. Rodgers is listed first, while Rudolph, Howard, and Allar remain on the team’s roster.
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What do you think of the Steelers’ quarterback decision for 2026? Like this slideshow and comment.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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