Following the Pittsburgh Steelers' 28-9 preseason victory over the Green Bay Packers, NFL legend Steve Smith Sr. shared his thoughts on the development of rookie quarterback Drew Allar. Appearing on Get Up this past Friday, Smith expressed his approval of the young signal-caller’s performance, particularly highlighting the benefit of Allar sitting behind veteran Aaron Rodgers. Smith noted that Rodgers’ presence in the locker room provides a unique mentorship opportunity, as players naturally listen to everything the veteran quarterback says.
Allar, who entered the game late in the third quarter, made an immediate impact by completing 10-of-13 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns. His performance resulted in a near-perfect 155.1 passer rating. A highlight of his debut was a 74-yard completion to fellow rookie Kaden Wetjen on just his third professional snap. He also recorded a three-yard touchdown run, a five-yard touchdown pass to Wetjen, and a four-yard scoring strike to Riley Nowakowski. Observers noted that Allar’s footwork showed visible improvement compared to his collegiate career at Penn State.
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy deployed three quarterbacks during the game, including veteran Mason Rudolph. Despite the depth at the position, McCarthy expressed satisfaction with the play of his younger signal-callers, specifically mentioning Allar and Will Howard. Howard, who missed the 2025 preseason due to a fractured pinky finger, remains part of the team's young quarterback core. While Rodgers is slated to remain the starter for Week 1 and has suggested 2026 may be his final season, the organization is focused on the long-term maturation of its younger talent. The Steelers are scheduled to face the New York Jets in their next preseason matchup on Friday, August 21.
