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Aaron Rodgers Weighs in on Steelers Keeping Four Quarterbacks
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- Aaron Rodgers Weighs in on Steelers Keeping Four Quarterbacks
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers weighed on the team keeping four quarterbacks during his media availability on Wednesday.
"I mean, I was thinking it was a possibility. I don't think I've been on a roster with four quarterbacks," Rodgers said. "Obviously, when you do that, you're taking away another spot from a place on the team. But, at the same time, if the best 53 are going to make it, and not saying they did, I think those four are part of the best 53. I'm happy for all those guys. Obviously, looking to the future, those other three guys are going to have a chance when I'm gone. And with the growth you saw with Will [Howard] and obviously with Drew [Allar] being drafted so high, but also playing well in camp. I'm not surprised at all, and I'm excited about those guys' futures."
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Rodgers was impressed with what he saw from the two young quarterbacks — Will Howard and Drew Allar — in the preseason.
"I thought the entire camp, it was never too big for 'em. They looked really comfortable out there, and I thought they did a lot of good things, moving the football, being efficient. Just learning experiences," the four-time NFL MVP said. "But, look at my first preseason, it was not pretty at all. I didn't play good until about the second half of the fourth preseason game. So they're definitely ahead of where I was at. Mentally, they're grasping the offense. I'm really proud of both those guys."
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy hinted in his postgame interview after Thursday night's preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills that the Steelers were leaning toward keeping Rodgers, Mason Rudolph , Howard and Allar all on the roster.
"I think that's a very accurate evaluation on your part, yeah. I feel good about the quarterbacks room," McCarthy said when asked if the team feels it has four quarterbacks who earned roster spots. "I think they've shown it for quite some time. I think they've shown it on the field. We got two veterans that we can win with, and we got two young guys that we're real excited about their future."
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Last Tuesday, McCarthy pushed back on the idea that there wouldn't be enough reps to go around in the regular season, should he keep all four quarterbacks .
"If you have four quarterbacks in that room, especially the quality we have right now, I think it only enhances what the regular season would look like. … I'd have six quarterbacks in the building if it worked," McCarthy said.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Drew Allar during a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers on Aug. 13, 2026. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
It's very rare for teams to keep four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster. More than half the league only kept two last year. Things have changed this year, however. In addition to the Steelers, the Philadelphia Eagles , Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons also kept four quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster. The Cleveland Browns also kept Deshaun Watson , Shedeur Sanders , rookie Taylen Green and placed Dillon Gabriel on injured reserve and designated him to return with a back injury.
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McCarthy stated throughout the offseason that it's possible to develop two quarterbacks at the same time.
"Oh, definitely. I think that speaks to the staff," McCarthy said in April before the draft. "There's a number of coaches that have been with me in the past. We pulled out some old Tom Arth quarterback school film from 2006 today. So, we're fine as far as the training environment that we're trying to establish. I think it's a position, we speak on it as the most important position in football, and I think it's important to always try to add to it as you can."
Steelers offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio echoed McCarthy when speaking with the media this past spring.
"You can never have enough quarterbacks," Angelichio said. "With the system that's in place here, it's great that we have four quarterbacks. We have a plan on how all those guys are going to get reps."
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Alan Saunders and Brendan Howe provided reporting from Pittsburgh.
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