Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy (left) talks with quarterback Aaron Rodgers (right) before the game against the New York Jets at Acrisure Stadium.
Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Mike McCarthy shut down the idea of having four quarterbacks on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster going into the 2026 NFL season.
McCarthy is preparing for the first year of his head coaching stint with the Steelers. Following past destinations with the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys, the coach looks to get Pittsburgh back to serious playoff contention.
Pittsburgh currently has four quarterbacks on the team, having Aaron Rodgers, Drew Allar, Will Howard, and Mason Rudolph. Teams typically cut that down to three for the regular season, indicating a possibility that one of the quarterbacks won't be on the roster.
However, there is a report that showed Pittsburgh will start the roster with four quarterbacks. McCarthy didn't give any legitimacy to that article when the media asked him about it, via Steelers Depot.
“I haven’t been a part of any conversations about the 53 that’s been decided already,” McCarthy said.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Drew Allar warms up for a pre-season game against the Green Bay Packers at Acrisure Stadium.
Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
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What lies ahead for Mike McCarthy, Steelers this season
Mike McCarthy has the experience for the Steelers to experience solid success. Aaron Rodgers has one more year before retiring, but McCarthy will look forward to the growth of Drew Allar and Will Howard.
McCarthy has been a head coach in the NFL since 2006. He led the Green Bay Packers for 13 years, winning a Super Bowl title in 2010. The Cowboys were his next destination, coaching them for five years as he got them to the playoffs three times.
The Steelers will attempt to improve on their 10–7 record of the past three seasons. They will also attempt to end their seven-game playoff game losing streak dating back to the 2016 season. Rodgers is the starting quarterback as he prepares for retirement from the NFL as a future Hall of Famer.
Pittsburgh has one more preseason contest to deal with, facing the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. ET. Their regular-season opener commences at home against the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. ET.