Big Ben just dumped a bucket of cold water on Steelers QB Drew Allar with controversial comments on how far he has to go
Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had some cold, hard facts surrounding what he has seen from rookie quarterback Drew Allar thus far.
When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, many people immediately labeled the pick “a reach.” If you only watched a highlight tape of Allar, you would probably wonder how anyone could come to that conclusion. He has the size, a wicked arm, and mobility that is reminiscent of Josh Allen.
But the quarterback position is subtle. It’s about nuance, intangibles, and above all else, fundamentals. Well, it’s been very clear through both rookie minicamp and now OTAs, that Allar is lacking in the nuance, and Ben Roethlisberger didn’t hold back.
Drew Allar Facts
- Bought Penn State to the CFP semifinal in 2024-2025.
- Former Mr. Ohio for football in high school.
- Grew up a Browns fan.
Big Ben worried about Drew Allar as an NFL quarterback
“To me, when I’m watching him do like three-step drops, that makes me incredibly nervous in this, and then you might say, ‘well, like we’re refining things.’ There’s a difference in refining things and teaching,” said Roethlisberger on his podcast via Channel Seven on YouTube. “The first thing, when we did football camps, or the first thing you’re teaching the youngest kids, is how to do a three-step drop.”
Is Big Ben right about Drew Allar?
What Big Ben is obviously alluding to is that Allar is way behind for an NFL quarterback. To use an analogy, it would be like dropping someone into business calculus when they don’t know the fundamentals of Algebra 1.
And the Steelers know that. It’s why the report came out that Pittsburgh’s coaching staff essentially told Allar, “Hey, everything you know about the quarterback position…Forget about it, we are going to teach you something new.”
Make no mistake, the Steelers know that Allar is nowhere close to being a starter quarterback. It’s why Allar has been taking the quarterback No.4 reps in OTAs, and its the same reason that he was the only signal caller at rookie minicamp. He needs all the reps he can get, and more importantly, he needs to learn from those in front of him.
So while the quote may feel harsh, and it’s just Big Ben stating his opinion, he didn’t say anything the Steelers don’t already know.