Ben Roethlisberger highlights key mental trait in Steelers young QBs

August 26, 2026 - 00:57

PITTSBURGH - Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger saw something he liked from the team's young signal-callers during Friday's preseason loss to the New York Jets. It wasn't about the stats or the highlight throws. It was about how they handled the bad moments.

Roethlisberger specifically called out Will Howard and Drew Allar for showing what he calls a short memory. Both quarterbacks made mistakes early in the game, but neither let those errors snowball into a rough night. Instead, they bounced back on the next drive and kept competing.

"That's the hardest thing to teach a young quarterback," Roethlisberger said on his podcast. "You can have all the arm talent in the world, but if you can't move past a bad interception or a missed read, you're done in this league. These guys showed real poise."

Howard, who is battling for a backup spot, threw a pick in the first half but came back with a sharp two-minute drill before halftime. Allar, the rookie out of Penn State, struggled early with pressure but settled in during the second half, showing better footwork and decision-making.

Roethlisberger noted that the mental side of the position often separates the good from the great. He said both players have the physical tools, but their ability to reset after mistakes is what stood out to him. The former Super Bowl winner also mentioned that the coaching staff should be encouraged by what they saw, even in a loss.

The Steelers still have questions at the quarterback position behind starter Russell Wilson. But if Friday night was any indication, the young backups are at least thinking the right way.