The Pittsburgh Steelers are going through a ton of change as a franchise right now, and that is mainly due to the fact that there has been a complete coaching overhaul within the organization. Only a few members of the staff from the 2025 season remain in Pittsburgh, and Mike McCarthy is the new man that is leading the way. Many fans were skeptical about the hire at first, but his experience with developing quarterbacks immediately became evident, and it was clear that his reputation as a "quarterback guru" was a big reason the franchise tried to bring him into the fold.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Head Coach Mike McCarthy stands on the field and looks off into the distance as he watches players take part in rookie minicamp during a workout in Pittsburgh, PA.
The team has been in quarterback purgatory ever since Ben Roethlisberger decided to retire following the 2021 season, and it is pretty hard to compete for a Super Bowl without a legitimate franchise quarterback.
It has been a revolving door when it comes to Pittsburgh's starting signal-caller, and the 2026 season will be the first time in five years that the Steelers have the same opening day starter in consecutive seasons thanks to the fact that Aaron Rodgers signed a new one-year deal with the team.
Drew Allar and Will Howard are also on the roster, and they are seen as developmental pieces, and McCarthy has been working closely with both of them. The franchise would like McCarthy to find the team's next long-term solution, or develop one of those two into the answer. The head coach is still working with everyone, and he is even making changes to Mason Rudolph's game. Beat writer Mark Kaboly noted this in a recent mailbag on X.
"Yes, he’s [Rudolph] going through a similar process that Drew Allar and Will Howard are going through." Kaboly wrote. "Is it as stripped down and basic as somebody like Allar? No. But McCarthy values everybody playing quarterback the way he believes it needs to be played, and that includes somebody like Rudolph, who has been around for now nine years."
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers new Head Coach Mike McCarthy works with newly-drafted quarterback Drew Allar during organized team activities.
This is interesting since Rudolph is considered the odd man out by many fans when it comes to the quarterback room. There has been chatter about the team keeping four quarterbacks, but that seems unlikely. Rodgers and Allar are clearly safe, so it will come down to Howard and Rudolph.
Pittsburgh can risk it and try to cut Howard and bring him back on the practice squad, but that seems like another unlikely option. McCarthy reworking Rudolph's game is something to note, and it might be a sign that he is in better position to make the final roster than most fans expect.
Jordan Schofield / SteelerNation (X: @JSKO_PHOTO)
Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph (2) during 2025 training camp in Latrobe, PA.
Steelers Have Seen Enough From Rudolph
Rudolph has proved time and time again that he is nothing more than a backup quarterback in the NFL. Most of his spot starts for the Steelers have not been great, although he will always be remembered for his run at the end of the 2023 season that helped Pittsburgh clinch a spot in the postseason.
Outside of that stretch, he has not been great. He spent a season with the Tennessee Titans where he had a legitimate chance to start, but he performed horribly and was back in Pittsburgh the next year.
Maybe McCarthy can fix him, and if the coach likes what he sees by the end of training camp he could still be in the quarterback room in 2026. It will be interesting to see how the room pans out due to how competitive it is.
What do you think of this report from Kaboly? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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