The Pittsburgh Steelers are stuck waiting to see if 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers comes back for the 2026 season. But according to recent reports, if Rodgers walks, the team is already taking some major steps to prepare rookie Drew Allar.

Head coach Mike McCarthy isn't messing around during the rookie minicamp with his quarterback. As first reported by Brooke Pryor on ESPN SportsCenter, 

"They are essentially uninstalling everything he(Drew Allar) has learned, and they're re-uploading their own methods and fundamentals and mechanics with Allar."

Even though Allar has a solid 6-foot-5, 228-pound frame and a good arm, the real test will be when he is put under pressure. It shall be interesting to see if the change in arm motion and footwork works when the season starts for real.

If the Aaron Rodgers era officially wraps up after just a single season, the quarterback room falls to veteran Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and the rookie Drew Allar. That means the success of Allar's mechanical rework might actually dictate the whole franchise's 2026 trajectory.

One thing is for sure: if the Steelers have to go from Rodgers to unproven guys like Allar, Howard, or even the 30-year-old Rudolph, it puts them straight into a rebuilding phase from strong contenders in the AFC North Division.

Can Drew Allar Match Aaron Rodgers' Numbers?

To be fair, stepping in for a four-time MVP is no joke. Last year, Rodgers gave Pittsburgh a great season as he started 16 games, throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only 7 interceptions with a solid 65.7% completion rate.

But things didn't end perfectly. The Steelers suffered a 30-6 wild-card round loss to the Houston Texans. Without Rodgers elite pre-snap adjustments on the field, Pittsburgh’s margin for error this upcoming season is going to be incredibly thin.

Still, Allar brings some seriously impressive collegiate baggage from Penn State. In his 2024 junior season alone, he threw for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just 8 picks.

He is actually the only FBS quarterback since 1956 with 900+ career pass attempts, 50+ passing touchdowns, and 12 or fewer interceptions. While this is just a milestone he passed during his collegiate career, and not a final collegiate wrap-up stat, it talks about his talent.

But with the changes being made to his game, how much of a difference will the Rookie make? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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Written by

Nisarga Aseem Barkule

Edited by

Zaid Quraishi