The Pittsburgh Steelers have been on a long and frustrating quest to find their next franchise quarterback, but the search continues. From future Hall of Famers like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson to developmental projects like Justin Fields and Kenny Pickett, none have stuck. So, in the 2026 NFL Draft, the team took a gamble on former Penn State star Drew Allar, snagging him with the 76th pick in the third round.

Allar entered last season with sky-high expectations, but a rocky, injury-plagued campaign sent his draft stock tumbling. That slide allowed the Steelers to scoop him up later than many predicted. While the Nittany Lions quarterback flashed brilliance at times during his college career, one Pittsburgh legend isn't ready to crown him the savior just yet.

On a recent episode of his podcast, Ben Roethlisberger shared his honest doubts with former teammate Max Starks. "I'm not sure yet if I love it or hate it," Big Ben admitted. "When I did watch, he never jumped off the page to me." The two-time Super Bowl champion acknowledged Allar's elite physical tools but added, "There was never a time where I was like, 'Whoa.'"

Roethlisberger did confess that he didn't watch many Penn State games, which might explain why he missed some of Allar's standout throws. The former five-star recruit is far from a polished NFL-ready product, but anyone who watched him closely could see the raw potential bubbling beneath the surface. Now, Allar faces a steep climb to reach his ceiling—and he'll also need to win over a man who's practically immortal in Pittsburgh.