Mike McCarthy open to keeping four quarterbacks

Mike McCarthy is not opposed to an unusually crowded quarterback room.

In fact, the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach believes keeping four quarterbacks could provide a meaningful benefit once the regular season begins, particularly given the depth and experience Pittsburgh has assembled at the position.

“I’d take six QBs in the building if it worked,” McCarthy said via Mike DeFabo.

McCarthy’s comments come as the Steelers evaluate their quarterback situation heading into the final stages of the preseason. Pittsburgh currently has four quarterbacks competing for roster spots: veteran Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph, rookie Drew Allar and second-year quarterback Will Howard.

While most NFL teams typically carry three quarterbacks on their active roster, McCarthy indicated that the Steelers could consider keeping all four if the roster construction allows for it.

“If you have four quarterbacks in that room, especially given the quality that we have, I think it only enhances what the regular season would look like,” McCarthy said.

The Steelers have invested in developing the position, with Allar selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft and Howard entering his second season after being selected in the sixth round last year. Rudolph, meanwhile, provides significant NFL experience behind Rodgers.

The potential value of carrying four quarterbacks extends beyond simply having an additional player available on game day. McCarthy believes the competition and preparation within the room can benefit the entire offense throughout the season.

That philosophy also applies to Pittsburgh’s quarterback development program.

McCarthy said his quarterback school could “kick up some” once the regular season arrives because the quarterbacks will no longer be working under the same time constraints that exist during training camp practices.

The additional time could allow the Steelers to devote more attention to the finer details of the position, including preparation, communication, film study and offensive concepts.

For a team with a veteran starter in Rodgers and two young quarterbacks in Allar and Howard, that extra developmental work could prove valuable.

The Steelers also have Rudolph, who has experience in Pittsburgh’s system and has started games during his NFL career. Keeping all four would give McCarthy a veteran presence behind Rodgers while allowing the organization to continue developing its two younger quarterbacks.

Ultimately, the decision will come down to roster mathematics and how the Steelers believe they can best allocate their available spots.

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