Steelers' QB Drew Allar has an Ohio, Browns background that he shares in part with Ben Roethlisberger

Steelers' QB Drew Allar has an Ohio, Browns background that he shares in part with Ben Roethlisberger originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Drew Allar is going to have to switch allegiances.The new Pittsburgh Steelers QB comes from a family that holds Cleveland Browns season tickets."I guess that's out the window now," Allar told reporters after the Steelers chose him with the No. 76 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.2026 NFL DRAFT HQ:Live tracker | Pick-by-pick grades | Best players still availableTo be fair to Allar, he hails from Medina in northeast Ohio, clearly in Browns country.Allar was a high school star there, earning Mr.

Football honors in his senior season.Ohio State was on Allar too late in the recruiting process, though, and so he went to Penn State, who spotted him early.With the Nittany Lions, Allar developed into a player that seemed like a first-round pick heading into 2025 before a nightmare campaign for PSU got James Franklin fired and ended with Allar out for the season with an injury.He's healed up, and he was drafted earlier than expected, the nature of the quarterback position.BEST DRAFT NAMES: Ephesians Prysock | R Mason Thomas | DeVonta Smith | Zxavian HarrisThere is a good omen in play here, too.Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers legend, was also an Ohio kid. He's from Findlay, which is in northwest Ohio, and he wasn't as known a recruit -- he ended up at Miami (Ohio).That path worked out well for Big Ben and the Steelers.If Allar could turn out to be even a fraction of the QB of Roethlisberger, the Steelers will feel like they did this right.After all, the Buckeye State has produced some special football players. Maybe Allar, now playing in Pittsburgh, will be next.More NFL Draft news:Vikings' new draft pick has 4 crazy petsBrandon Aiyuk trade rumors might persist for a whileSteelers' 1st-round pick didn't play football until collegeEagles and Cowboys have made a trade like this beforeBrowns' pick is really about Shedeur Sanders' replacement