As the 2026 NFL season approaches, an emerging trend is taking hold among several teams: carrying four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Once a rare strategy—famously employed by the New England Patriots in 2000 when Bill Belichick kept rookie Tom Brady as the fourth QB—this approach is now becoming more common.
Currently, three teams have four quarterbacks on their active rosters, while four others maintain four across the active roster and practice squad combined. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers acknowledged that keeping four QBs means sacrificing a roster spot elsewhere but emphasized that those four likely represent the best combination of players available.
The Steelers’ configuration reflects both an immediate push for success and a commitment to the future. They have veteran Mason Rudolph positioned behind Rodgers for occasional starts, along with two developmental quarterbacks, Will Howard and Drew Allar, rounding out the group. Similarly, the Atlanta Falcons have opted to carry four quarterbacks, signaling uncertainty about Michael Penix’s and Tua Tagovailoa’s contributions. Their group also includes long-time backup Cooper Rush and undrafted rookie Jack Strand.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Eagles have unexpectedly adopted the four-QB model, raising questions about starting quarterback Jalen Hurts as he enters a pivotal season. They added veteran Andy Dalton for his familiarity with the team’s new offensive system but are also keeping Tanner McKee and Cole Payton on the roster. Eagles general manager Howie Roseman underscored the value of depth at the quarterback position.
Other franchises, such as the Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings, carry three quarterbacks on the active roster plus one on the practice squad, reflecting uncertainties about Kyler Murray’s durability for the Vikings and concerns over health issues related to Commanders quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. The Cincinnati Bengals maintain two quarterbacks on their active roster and two on the practice squad, including veteran Josh Johnson, supplementing starters Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco. The Jacksonville Jaguars, following a trade for Quinn Ewers, similarly split four quarterbacks between their active roster and practice squad, illustrating doubts about their backups behind Trevor Lawrence.
In other NFL news, the Patriots-Seahawks matchup scheduled for this week will mark the rare occasion of an NFL game played on a Wednesday—the fifth in league history and the second NFL Kickoff Game on that day. The scheduling shift accommodates the Rams-49ers game in Australia, mandated to avoid Fridays due to restrictions in the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. The game will feature Seattle’s cultural presence with Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready performing the national anthem and a halftime reunion of Soundgarden with guest artists.
NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth expects a more competitive contest than the Super Bowl rematch in February, pointing to the Patriots’ offseason acquisitions, including A.J. Brown and Romeo Dobbs, and the addition of quarterback Drake Maye, who bolsters their deep passing threat.
Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins enter the season with the league’s lowest projected win total at 4.5 and the second-worst Super Bowl odds after the Arizona Cardinals. Following a major roster overhaul and heavy salary cap cuts, Miami’s active roster cash spending stands at $188 million, significantly below the league average of $317 million, with the league’s youngest squad averaging 25.2 years old. Head coach Jeff Hafley tempered expectations last week, remarking that the focus this year is on building identity and culture rather than immediate wins—comments acknowledged as realistic but potentially risky to morale.
Also worth noting, former Steelers coach Mike Tomlin expressed skepticism about reports alleging the Patriots use optical illusions on stadium video boards to complicate kicking attempts by opponents. Tomlin stated that such nuances are common venue features intended to create advantages but within NFL guidelines, and he questioned the overall impact on game outcomes.
As teams refine their strategies in quarterback management and roster construction, the 2026 season begins with these evolving approaches shaping the competitive landscape.