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For most rookie quarterbacks, the transition to the NFL comes with a steep learning curve. For Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Drew Allar, that process includes something few young passers ever experience: learning directly from one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in league history.
As training camp approaches, Allar says he plans to take full advantage of the opportunity to work alongside Aaron Rodgers while also adapting to head coach Mike McCarthy’s offense.
Allar discusses importance of Rodgers’ time in Green Bay with McCarthy
Speaking recently with Eric Williams of Fox Sports, Allar explained why Rodgers’ experience in McCarthy’s system makes the veteran an invaluable resource.
“I’m really excited to learn from [Rodgers],” Allar said. “With him being in coach McCarthy’s system in Green Bay, it’s beneficial because he knows the system inside and out, even though he hasn’t played in it in five or six years at this point. And just everything he’s going through in his career, playing in tens of thousands of snaps, how much experience and knowledge he has — the nuances of playing the position of quarterback, reading coverages, the defensive tendencies — any little thing I can pick up to help me process faster and be more accurate, I’m all in for it.”
Rodgers’s perspective on what to look out for at the quarterback position is something coaches covet when evaluating and developing a younger quarterback. Allar does not see the veteran as standing in the way of his playing time, he instead sees Rodgers as someone to learn from and emulate. Rodgers’ experience has provided him with the mental and physical tools necessary to overcome any kind of pass rush. That is something that will benefit Allar much more than an eager pursuit of immediate playing time.
Rodgers’ comfort with McCarthy’s offensive system further enriches that rapport. That is not to say the play calls or schemes are not in a completely different place now compared to the time they spent together with the Packers, but Rodgers has a feel for how McCarthy’s mind thinks when crafting an offense. That is something you simply cannot get through film study or coaching sessions in the meeting room.
Rodgers’ mentorship of Allar is building for the future
The mentorship between Rodgers and Allar has already extended beyond formal practices. Earlier this offseason, the veteran revealed he had been pulling the rookie aside during drills and film sessions to discuss reads, footwork and decision-making, giving Pittsburgh’s young quarterback a firsthand look at how one of the NFL’s most accomplished passers approaches the game.
That dynamic benefits everyone involved. Rodgers remains focused on helping the Steelers compete in 2026, while Allar gains knowledge without the immediate pressure of carrying the offense. It is a situation that allows Pittsburgh to compete now while quietly preparing for the future.
Allar is lucky to have Rodgers as a mentor
There is a limit to how much Rodgers can substitute for experience on an NFL field. Eventually, Allar will need to put what he has learned to the test against another team in a game setting. However, it is hard to imagine anyone better for him to learn from than Rodgers, who boasts a resume of four MVPs, a Super Bowl title and almost two decades as an elite NFL quarterback.
If Allar is willing to embrace the opportunity with the same enthusiasm that he has during this offseason, then the Steelers may be paving the way for a much simpler transition whenever it is time for Rodgers’ replacement to take over.
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