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The Pittsburgh Steelers still have questions surrounding what the future holds at the quarterback position. Aaron Rodgers decided to come back for one more year in 2026, but that doesn't necessarily solve the organization's search for a long-term solution. Both Will Howard and Drew Allar will have plenty of eyes on them during training camp and the preseason; however, if the 42-year-old stays healthy, neither of the young gunslingers will have an opportunity to prove that they have what it takes. This might put the front office in a position where it has to take another signal-caller in the 2027 NFL Draft.
It is going to be especially difficult to stay away from taking a quarterback in the first round due to the amount of talent that is expected to come out of the college ranks. There will be legitimate top-notch guys that can potentially be selected outside of the top-10 simply because of the law of averages. Depending on how the Steelers' 2026 campaign goes, a number of prospects could be within reach.
One of those players is Oklahoma's John Mateer. The Sooners' starter under center isn't currently projected to be picked up very early on, but a solid season could change a lot of things for him. Some members of this class could get lost in the thick of things due to the amount of stars that could be drafted. What stood out about Mateer recently, however, was his fondness for Pittsburgh legend Terry Bradshaw.
The OU Insider YouTube channel recently published an interview with Mateer on Monday. He was discussing the upcoming college football campaign and actually brought up how he has been watching Bradshaw highlights. He went to even more detail and also mentioned that he was able to meet the four-time Super Bowl champion not too long ago.
"I've actually been watching some Terry Bradshaw film," Mateer said. "Y'all wouldn't believe it. [I] met up with him, saw him a couple of days ago, and he's watching film. He's great. Being like him and winning four Super Bowls — come on — winning games, Terry Bradshaw. No, everybody knows about Terry Bradshaw."
While it may not seem like much on the surface, the Steelers are now certainly aware that an up-and-coming quarterback prospect doesn't just have some interest in the organization's history, but went out of his way to commend Bradshaw for his greatness. Not all front offices would care or pay attention to something like this, but the Steelers' decision-makers most likely appreciate that Mateer is watching film from the 1970s.
The stock for Mateer is sort of in the air. His draft projection will likely change throughout what will likely be his final collegiate season. There are going to be a lot of quarterbacks to outperform if the end goal is to be taken in the first round. There is no way to tell if the Steelers keep in close contact with Bradshaw, but it wouldn't come as a surprise if someone reached out to get a little more information on the two meeting one another.
Pittsburgh has been lucky enough to have a couple of standout franchise signal-callers since the 1970s. Now, it is looking for another one. Howard and Allar can't be ruled out just yet, but neither can a guy like Mateer, especially after openly discussing how much he appreciates a legend like Bradshaw.
Steelers Will Do A Ton Of Due Diligence In The Next 6 Months
Pittsburgh has a season to worry about; however, there should be scouts all over the college football landscape in 2026. There is no guarantee that anyone on the roster will get a chance to prove themselves aside from Rodgers, so the Steelers can't ignore the fact that the position might have to be invested in once again.
Fans should keep an eye on Oklahoma games to see which organizations are in attendance, and it shouldn't come as a surprise if someone from the Steel City shows up often.
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