Riley Nowakowski raves about confidence of Drew Allar

Aug 13, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers fullback Riley Nowakowski (37) celebrates a touchdown pass from quarterback Drew Allar (16) against the Green Bay Packers during the second half of a game at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Drew Allar’s first NFL preseason appearance provided the Pittsburgh Steelers with plenty of reasons to be encouraged about the future of their quarterback position.

The rookie third-round pick looked poised and decisive in his debut Thursday night, helping lead the Steelers to a 28-9 victory over the Green Bay Packers, completing 10 of 13 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score, finishing with a 154.8 passer rating.

But perhaps just as encouraging for Pittsburgh is the progress Allar has made away from the stat sheet.

Rookie tight end/fullback Riley Nowakowski, who caught a touchdown pass from Allar in the preseason opener, has noticed a significant change in the young quarterback’s presence since he first arrived in Pittsburgh.

“You’ve seen his confidence skyrocket,” Nowakowski said. “I think he does such a good job of commanding the huddle compared to when he came in. You can even hear it in his cadence. He’s really been using his cadence as a weapon and just being able to really have us feel like, ‘Oh, shoot, this guy’s got control of our offense.”

#Steelers rookie TE/FB Riley Nowakowski on QB Drew Allar's leadership presence: "You've seen his confidence skyrocket. I think he does such a good job of commanding the huddle compared to when he came in. You can even hear it in his cadence. He's really been using his cadence as… pic.twitter.com/yywpnc5OCz

— Brendan Howe (@bybrendanhowe) August 14, 2026

Allar showed accuracy, arm strength and athleticism against Green Bay. He connected with Kaden Wetjen on a 75-yard completion that set up his rushing touchdown before later finding Wetjen for another score. He also threw a touchdown to Nowakowski, helping turn three of his drives into touchdowns.

The performance came after a training camp in which Allar had already been drawing praise from head coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coaches for his poise, ability to absorb information and willingness to respond to coaching.

Still, the Steelers aren’t rushing to make conclusions based on one preseason performance. Aaron Rodgers remains Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback, while Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are also competing for roles in a crowded quarterback room.

What makes Allar’s development especially interesting, however, is that the Steelers aren’t simply evaluating his physical ability. They are watching for the traits that could eventually allow him to take control of the franchise.

According to Nowakowski, that process is already underway.

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