As the NFL coaching carousel spins wildly this offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers are quietly doing their homework down in Mobile, Alabama, where the Senior Bowl is underway. While the coaching staff is in transition and Mike Tomlin is no longer the familiar figure pacing the sidelines, the Steelers' focus on scouting talent hasn’t wavered. And with the 2026 NFL Draft being held in Pittsburgh, the stakes-and the spotlight-are even bigger.
New head coach Mike McCarthy is still assembling his staff, and most of the personnel wearing Steelers gear at the Senior Bowl this week won’t be part of the final group come fall. But the players taking the field? They could very well be wearing black and gold by the time training camp rolls around.
One name that’s already generating buzz in Steelers circles is LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier. He’s one of several quarterbacks in Mobile hoping to boost their draft stock, but his connection to Pittsburgh runs a little deeper than most.
“I would love to play for the Steelers and McCarthy,” Nussmeier said this week.
That statement carries some weight, especially given the family ties. Nussmeier’s father, Doug, is a longtime quarterbacks coach who worked directly under McCarthy during their time together in Dallas.
When McCarthy took over the Cowboys in 2020, Doug Nussmeier was already on staff as the tight ends coach. McCarthy promoted him to quarterbacks coach-a role he held until 2022.
That kind of familiarity could go a long way in the draft room when Pittsburgh is weighing its options on Day 2.
And make no mistake, the Steelers are in the quarterback market. With Fernando Mendoza expected to be off the board early, the first-round options could be slim.
That puts prospects like Nussmeier firmly in the conversation for Pittsburgh’s second-round pick at No. 51-or even one of their three third-round selections if he slides. General Manager Omar Khan has some flexibility to move around the board, and if the right quarterback is there, he won’t hesitate to make a move.
But here’s the thing: Nussmeier’s stock isn’t quite where it was a year ago. After a promising 2024 campaign that had some scouts whispering about first-round potential, his 2025 season didn’t exactly build on that momentum.
He completed 67% of his passes-his best mark yet-but the overall production dipped. In nine games, he threw for under 2,000 yards with 12 touchdowns and five interceptions.
Solid, but not spectacular. And in today’s quarterback-hungry league, “solid” doesn’t always get you a starting job.
Still, there’s plenty to like. Nussmeier has the tools-arm talent, football IQ, and a competitive edge that shows up on tape.
What he needs is refinement, and that’s where McCarthy comes in. The new Steelers head coach has a track record with quarterbacks that speaks for itself.
Think Joe Montana, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott-McCarthy has worked with some of the best to ever do it. If anyone knows how to develop a young passer, it’s him.
So while the Steelers’ coaching staff may be in flux and the roster questions still loom large, the Senior Bowl is offering a glimpse at what could be next. And if Garrett Nussmeier ends up hearing his name called in April with the draft stage set in Pittsburgh, don’t be surprised. The connection is real, the need is clear, and the opportunity might be too good for either side to pass up.