Here is how the Pittsburgh Steelers are coaching rookie QB Drew Allar.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are being very diligent with rookie QB Drew Allar.
According to ESPN, the Steelers are essentially uninstalling everything Allar learned about playing QB and re-uploading their own fundamentals and mechanics.
Allar played in 45 games for Penn State. He finished with 7,402 passing yards, 61 passing touchdowns and 13 interceptions while completing 63.2% of his passes.
The Steelers don't know if Aaron Rodgers will return to the team, so Mike McCarthy is giving his undivided attention to Allar in case the rookie has to start next season.
"It gives you the ability to play faster," McCarthy said of the importance of having good footwork. "Gives you the ability to transition in and out of the challenges that occur throughout quarterback play. 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. When you see the response from Friday's practice, talk about it Saturday morning and then for him to go out there and do it today, that's encouraging.
"Frankly, it's really the same types of stuff that we went through with Will four weeks ago. So these are two young guys that have a lot of football in front of him, got a lot of work to do, but gosh, I mean, they're definitely wired the right way, and they bring an excellent physical skill set."
For Allar specifically, it's not only about getting comfortable under center, but it's also about making sure his physical foundation is strong.
"Just playing with a little bit wider base and keeping my feet in the ground as much as I can and not getting on my toes as much," Allar said. "It's just really fundamental things that I just have to be aware of now and be conscious of. And in the drill work, obviously I want to be as accurate as I can in the drill work, but really just focusing on the footwork and getting that mental repetition down so I can feel that and then carry that over into team when it's a competing session."
The Steelers won the AFC North last season but lost to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the 2026 playoffs. Mike Tomlin stepped down as head coach and McCarthy was hired.
If Rodgers doesn't come back, Allar will compete with Will Howard and Mason Rudolph for the Steelers' starting QB gig.
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