The Pittsburgh Steelers added Mike McCarthy as the head coach this offseason, and he already has his hands full. The Steelers are waiting to agree on terms with Aaron Rodgers, who seems poised to return for 2026.
Regardless, the Steelers are looking for their next franchise quarterback. In the 2026 NFL Draft, they selected quarterback Drew Allar with the 76th overall pick in the third round. While that may have pumped the fanbase with excitement, they should slow down. Especially after the latest report that came from the building.
ESPN's Brooke Pryor reported that the team is basically "uninstalling" everything Allar learned at Penn State and is effectively building him back up as a quarterback.
Pryor said, "They are re-uploading their own methods and fundamentals and mechanics.”
Even though it was known that Allar needed some work, it seems like the 2026 campaign could be a redshirt year for him.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are working on the basics with QB Drew Allar
Allar stands at 6'5" and weighs roughly 230 pounds. He owns a powerful throwing arm and traits that excite the Steelers, but when it comes to the fundamentals, he needs a lot of work. And it didn't take long for Pittsburgh to realize that.
Pryor expressed that quarterbacks coach Tom Arth and McCarthy gave a ton of undivided attention to Allar during the rookie minicamp.
McCarthy stated, "We're teaching him different than the way he's played before. He hasn't spent a lot of time under center. He's a run-and-shoot guy in high school. He's played from 9 yards deep. So there's just a lot of newness to him, but it's just like anything."
He then added that Allar has already shown signs of progress but has a lot of room to grow. He was a three-year starter at Penn State, playing in 45 games. In those outings, Allar completed 63% of his passes for 7,402 passing yards, 61 passing touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Despite the solid numbers, Allar had his biggest struggles against top competition.
Allar was 1-6 against AP Top 10 teams. In those games, he completed 50.3% of his passes at 5.5 yards per attempt, according to Pryor. That's a drastic drop, considering he averaged eight yards per attempt and completed 67% of his passes against all other collegiate opponents.
The Steelers took a chance on Allar due to his raw talent and traits, but they aren't hiding that he needs some development. And if fans thought he would take the field in 2026, this report likely took some hope out of that dream. He needs some time, and Pittsburgh knows it.
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