“Great for young guys”: Steelers GM Omar Khan breaks silence on Aaron Rodgers as Drew Allar and Will Howard take center stage

The Pittsburgh Steelers still have not closed the door on Aaron Rodgers. But right now, the franchise seems just as focused on its younger quarterbacks.On May 13, Steelers general manager Omar Khan addressed the Rodgers situation during an appearance on the “Deebo and Joe Podcast.”

While fans continue to wait on Aaron Rodgers’ return decision, Khan made it clear that the team values the work happening in minicamp with Drew Allar and Will Howard.

Omar Khan says the Pittsburgh Steelers value young QB development while Aaron Rodgers talks continue

Omar Khan did not sound rushed about the Aaron Rodgers situation. Instead, he pointed toward the importance of offseason reps for the Steelers’ younger players, especially with Mike McCarthy now leading the team after Mike Tomlin’s exit earlier this year.

During the podcast appearance, Khan explained why this part of the offseason matters so much. “We’ve had communications with him and his agent, but the one thing I’ll say is this time of year, it’s great for these young guys,” Khan said on the “Deebo and Joe Podcast”.He also highlighted that the new coaching staff wants time with the roster before making any major quarterback decision. “The time that they’re spending getting to know each other and allowing our coaches to develop and grow not just the quarterbacks, but all these guys, it’s very precious,” Khan added during the interview.

That message quietly revealed where the Pittsburgh Steelers stand today. The franchise still respects what AaronRodgers brings, but the organization also wants Drew Allar and Will Howard to grow naturally through camp.Aaron Rodgers played the 2025 season in Pittsburgh and helped the Steelers reach the playoffs with 3,322 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions across 16 games. However, the season ended badly after a wild-card loss to the Houston Texans.

Soon after, Mike Tomlin stepped away, ushering in a new era for the franchise under McCarthy.Now the Steelers sit in an unusual spot. Aaron Rodgers remains available, yet Pittsburgh already has two young quarterbacks taking meaningful reps before the 2026 season. That makes Khan’s comments important. He never ruled out a return by Aaron Rodgers. At the same time, he openly backed the development of Drew Allar and Will Howard. Right now, the Steelers appear comfortable waiting while their young quarterbacks continue getting valuable time on the field.