Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Drew Allar demonstrated significant potential in his preseason debut Thursday, leading the team to a 28-9 victory over the Green Bay Packers. Allar, who was selected in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, threw for two touchdowns and added another on the ground, completing 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards.
Head coach Mike McCarthy lauded Allar's performance, noting his ability to hit receivers in stride and display arm strength. "I thought Drew played very, very well," McCarthy said after the game. The Steelers' offense appeared dynamic with Allar at the helm, generating explosive plays against the Packers' defense.
Allar's collegiate career at Penn State was marked by expectations of being a high draft pick. Ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, he was ranked among the top quarterback prospects. However, he opted to return to Penn State for his junior year, a decision that coincided with a disappointing 7-6 season for the Nittany Lions. The team's struggles led to coach James Franklin being fired midseason. Allar's own performance that year was limited to six games due to injury, in which he threw for 1,100 yards and eight touchdowns with three interceptions. This downturn impacted his draft stock, leading to his selection by the Steelers in the third round.
In the same preseason game, veteran quarterback Mason Rudolph completed 10 of 11 passes for 93 yards, while second-year player Will Howard went 7 of 9 for 86 yards. Neither backup quarterback threw a touchdown. Starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers did not participate in the preseason opener and is set to lead the team during the regular season.