The Pittsburgh Steelers were expected to select a quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they got their guy in the third round. The Steelers selected Drew Allar out of Penn State with the 76th overall pick, setting up a battle between he and Will Howard to be the potential future starting quarterback.

And while many could Allar is an in-state draft pick, his connection to the Steelers dates back to when he was in high school and Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth recruited him while he was the head coach at the University of Akron.

“I’ve been watching Drew since he was probably 14 or 15 years old,” Arth said after the Steelers drafted the Medina, OH native. “[I] offered him [a scholarship] as a college coach. And it’s just amazing to see how far he’s come.“

When discussing the traits he loves about Allar, Arth raved about his arm talent.

“He throws it as well as any quarterback in this draft class,” Arth said. “He has an effortless arm. He can make every single throw on the field. And he’s a better athlete than I think [he’s] given credit for.”

Allar threw for 61 touchdowns in college to just 13 interceptions. His arm is certainly his best weapon, it’s just a matter of Arth and head coach Mike McCarthy cleaning up his footwork and decision-making when the play breaks down.

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