Steelers Announce Unexpected Quarterback News After Aaron Rodgers Decision

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Steelers Announce Unexpected Quarterback News After Aaron Rodgers Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Will Chesanek | Last updated Aug 31, 2026 5:22 PM ET

Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing for the 2026 NFL regular season as they look to defend their AFC North Division title. In 16 games for Pittsburgh, Rodgers threw for 3,322 passing yards on a 65.7% completion percentage to go along with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Despite head coach Mike Tomlin leading Pittsburgh to a 10-7 record in 2025, the 30-6 playoff loss to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round left a sour taste in fans’ and the front office’s mouths. Tomlin ended his 19-year tenure as head coach of the Steelers without having a losing season while accumulating 193 wins, an 8-12 playoff record and winning the 2009 Super Bowl against the Arizona Cardinals.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron RodgersPeter Casey-Imagn Images

Now, with team president and owner Art Rooney II having Mike McCarthy leading the organization as the fourth head coach in the modern era, Rodgers is reunited with the coach from Super Bowl 2011. With McCarthy and Rodgers together, the team made an unexpected decision on Sunday with the quarterback room.

The Steelers decided to keep four quarterbacks for the 53-man roster cuts. Along with Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar all made the roster.

The decision is unexpected due to teams typically carrying two quarterbacks, with the NFL allowing the emergency third quarterback rule due to injuries.

Rudolph has been the backup quarterback for a while now, stepping in when needed. Howard was selected with the No. 185 overall pick in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft after winning a college football championship with the Ohio State Buckeyes, while Allar was selected with the No. 76 overall pick in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft out of Penn State.

“On the NFL’s cutdown day,” Schefter wrote on X, “the Steelers did in fact keep four QBs on their roster: Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar.”

On the NFL’s cutdown day, the Steelers did in fact keep four QBs on their roster: Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar. pic.twitter.com/As1xkSrh1a
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 30, 2026