A veteran future Hall of Fame returning starter. A trusted longtime backup. The previous year’s late-round rookie who turned some heads.
And added to the mix is a third-round draft pick with intriguing pedigree.
That likely will be the 2026 Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback position room once training camp opens in July. Sure. But those who think the team’s situation at the sport’s most important position is unique obviously don’t remember eight years ago.
There will be plenty of chatter in the coming months regarding how the Steelers’ QB depth chart shakes out. But for a model, look back to 2018.
The situations aren’t totally the same, but they do share remarkable similarities.
Each even includes Mason Rudolph.
Rudolph was the reigning NCAA passing yardage leader who’d won national awards as the top college quarterback when the Steelers selected him with a third-round pick in 2018. He was added to a group that at the time included a reigning six-time Pro Bowl QB in Ben Roethisberger, his dependable backup for the previous five seasons in Landry Jones and the Steelers’ fourth-round pick from 2017 (Josh Dobbs).
A crowded position room. And a lot like what the Steelers have in 2026 with Aaron Rodgers (likely) in the role of Roethlisberger, Rudolph now cast as the new Jones with Friday’s third-round draft choice (Drew Allar) taking on the role of 2018’s Rudolph and 2025 sixth-rounder Will Howard the updated version of Dobbs eight years ago.
“Just from a philosophical standpoint, we want to have a healthy quarterback room that we’re always developing,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s the most important position maybe in sports. It’s very difficult. There’s a lot that goes into that. We have a way of how the quarterback will be trained here. I’ve done it a long time.”
With the caveat that Rodgers remains unsigned and no one is publicly acknowledging with certainty that he will join the team soon — McCarthy on Saturday reiterated that the selection of Allar has no impact on the Rodgers decision — it’s informative to look back at the 2018 Steelers summer/preseason and how the QB battle shook out.
In the end, despite that Jones had started at least one game each of the previous three seasons, he was the odd man out. The Steelers went into the season with their two younger, developmental passers (Dobbs and Rudolph) as backups.
Where the 2018 and 2026 Steelers QB scenarios begin to diverge is with that at 42 years old, Rodgers’ projected longevity with the team ends after this season. Also, McCarthy is an offense-first coach so known for his quarterback development skills that the topic was broached during his interview with the Steelers before being hired three months ago.
“I will coach the heck out of that room,” McCarthy said. “I have a lot of confidence. I have history and experience that I will give everything I can to any quarterback in that room. We want to grow the quarterback room. We don’t want to just rely on one quarterback.”
The one quarterback the Steelers are most relying on for 2026 alone is Rodgers, who could make this entire discussion and decision about the QB depth chart moot if he decides to shock everyone involved by informing the team he intends to retire.
Absent that, Penn State alum Allar is the surest bet to make the 53-man active roster when the season begins. Teams simply don’t cut rookie third-round picks.
“My focus is going to be on how can I make myself 1% better each day,” Allar said when asked about the crowded position room. “Obviously, catching up on the playbook and learning everything like that and just acclimating myself to the team.”
Eight years ago this summer, it was a sterling preseason by Dobbs that compelled then-coach Mike Tomlin to feel comfortable enough to dump the experience Jones provided (18 regular-season games, five seasons in the organization) for the upside of the two youngsters.
Things playing out that way over these next four months would signal Howard continued to build on the promise he’d shown in leading Ohio State to the national championship 15 months ago and before suffering a finger injury during last year’s training camp.
“I was very impressed with Will last week,” McCarthy said, referencing voluntary minicamp workouts. “I know he’s a good athlete.”
At face value as things stand before organized team activities even start, the biggest domino to fall could come down to a decision between Howard and Rudolph. McCarthy needs Howard or Allar to show the coach he can be secure in having a backup who has zero NFL game experience as the next man up to a 42-year-old.
If neither can, Rudolph will make the team.
Steelers QB coach Tom Arth on what new Steelers QB Drew Allar needs to improve on to excel in the NFL pic.twitter.com/jvcdHOwfom
— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) April 25, 2026
But both Allar and Howard showing promise adds its own challenge in that the energies and attention of McCarthy, quarterbacks coach Tom Arth and other organizational resources will get split between two young passers.
“We’ll have a great plan for that,” Arth said.
“At the end of the day, it’s about them bringing the best out in one another.
One unconventional outcome that Khan didn’t summarily dismiss was holding four quarterbacks during the regular season, calling it an “option.” But he also acknowledged the reality of pro football that attrition or other unforeseen circumstances could make the decision for him.
“The league is set up where you have options and opportunities,” Khan said, “to keep your best players.”
Especially at the sport’s most important position.