Steelers’ QB Future: Could Familiarity with Garrett Nussmeier Shape Pittsburgh’s Draft Plans?
The Mike McCarthy era in Pittsburgh is just getting started, but one name already drawing attention in Steelers circles is LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier - and there’s a deeper connection here than just scouting tape.
Back when McCarthy was leading the Cowboys from 2020 to 2022, Doug Nussmeier served as his quarterbacks coach. That’s not just a footnote - it’s a potential bridge.
Doug, of course, is Garrett’s father. So while there’s no guarantee that the Steelers are targeting the LSU signal-caller, there’s a built-in familiarity that shouldn’t be ignored.
McCarthy and the elder Nussmeier worked closely together in Dallas, meaning Garrett likely grew up steeped in the same offensive language, structure, and teaching style that McCarthy values.
For a franchise now leaning into offensive identity under McCarthy - a sharp pivot from its historically defense-first approach - that kind of background could be a quiet tiebreaker in a deep quarterback class.
Garrett Nussmeier entered the 2025 college football season with legitimate Day 1 buzz. He was seen as one of the top passers in the country - a guy with the arm talent and pedigree to go early.
But the season didn’t unfold the way many expected. Nussmeier battled through an abdominal injury and patellar tendinitis, and the results on the field reflected that.
His performance dipped, and eventually, LSU shut him down. Now, his draft stock has cooled, settling into Day 2 territory.
He currently sits at No. 66 on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus board - right in the range where Pittsburgh could make a move without mortgaging the future.
And let’s be real - the quarterback picture in Pittsburgh is still a big question mark.
Aaron Rodgers hasn’t officially retired, and with McCarthy now in charge - the same coach he won a Super Bowl with in Green Bay - the reunion buzz is hard to ignore. But even if Rodgers returns, the long-term plan remains murky.
Will Howard, a sixth-round pick from the 2024 draft, is still waiting for his first NFL snap, though some fans believe he deserves a real shot. He’s got tools, no doubt, but he’s also unproven.
What’s clear is that the Steelers are in transition. For the first time in years, they’re being led by a head coach with an offensive mindset - a major philosophical shift for a team that’s leaned on defense and quarterback stability since the Roethlisberger era.
Since Big Ben walked away, Pittsburgh’s been searching for its next franchise guy. They’ve tried veteran patches.
They’ve drafted for upside. But nothing has stuck.
That’s why a player like Nussmeier - with NFL bloodlines, schematic familiarity, and untapped potential - could be more than just another name on the board.
He may not be a first-rounder anymore, but in the right system, with the right coach, he could be the kind of developmental swing that pays off. And under McCarthy, the Steelers might finally be ready to take that swing.
One thing’s for sure: the quarterback conversation in Pittsburgh isn’t going away. But for the first time in a while, it feels like it might be heading in a new direction.