With all the chaos in this year’s NFL coaching carousel, it’s almost easy to lose sight of the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers also have eyes on what's happening in Mobile, Alabama, at this year’s Senior Bowl.
Of course, things look different without Mike Tomlin roaming the field at Hancock Whitney Stadium. And with new head coach Mike McCarthy setting up his new coaching staff, not even the coaches you might see in Steelers gear in Mobile are going to be a part of the franchise in 2026.
Still, there’s as solid a chance as ever that one or more of the players showcasing their skills this week join the franchise in April at the 2026 NFL Draft held in Pittsburgh. Naturally, LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier is one of the names Steelers fans are keeping an eye on.
Senior Bowl quarterback makes feelings on Mike McCarthy and the Pittsburgh Steelers crystal clear
With the Steelers needing a new quarterback, and few options existing in the first round once Fernando Mendoza inevitably comes off the board with the first pick, any of the quarterbacks in Mobile would be happy to answer a phone call with a 412 area code next spring. But it would be a little extra special for Nussmeier.
"I would love to play for the Steelers and McCarthy," Nussmeier told Steelers Depot’s Ross McCorkle on Wednesday.
As McCorkle pointed out, Nussmeier has a connection to coach McCarthy already. His father, Doug, a long-time quarterbacks coach in the NFL and college ranks, has worked with McCarthy in the past on his staff with the Dallas Cowboys. When McCarthy was hired by Dallas in 2020, Doug Nussmeier was already the team’s tight ends coach, but McCarthy promoted him to quarterbacks coach, a position he held until 2022.
Even that slight connection might be the deciding factor between a quarterback like Nussmeier and another Day 2 quarterback if the team is looking to draft one in that spot. Currently, the Steelers have one second-round pick, No. 51, and three third-round picks, so general manager Omar Khan has some wiggle room to move up in the first round for a quarterback or maneuver around on Day 2 to maximize his value.
Still, when Steelers fans look at Nussmeier, they don’t see the same intriguing prospect they did before the 2025 season. Nussmeier completed 67% of his passes in 2025, a career high, but he struggled to make plays and protect the football, throwing for less than 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns to five interceptions in nine games. It was a far cry from the promising season he put together in 2024 that had many initially believing he could be a first-round pick.
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That said, McCarthy is supposed to be pretty good at developing quarterbacks. He’s had a hand in working with some of the best the league has ever seen, with names such as Joe Montana, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, and Dak Prescott highlighted on his resume.
Nussmeier is still a strong prospect in many regards, but no doubt McCarthy would have to take his time in getting the former LSU Tiger ready for real NFL action if the new head coach brings him to Pittsburgh in April.