That link centers on Nussmeier’s father, Doug Nussmeier, a former quarterback who is currently the Saints’ offensive coordinator. Doug Nussmeier previously spent time with the Dallas Cowboys on McCarthy’s staff, and he served as the Cowboys’ quarterbacks coach from 2020 to 2022. The relationship between McCarthy and the Nussmeier family has drawn attention from evaluators, who note McCarthy’s familiarity with Garrett.
Garrett Nussmeier is viewed as one of the more intriguing quarterbacks in the 2026 class. At 6’1” and 205 pounds, the 23-year-old entered the season with significant upside, though his projection slipped from a potential first-round pick toward a Day 2 status. He flashed high-end ability in 2024—4,052 passing yards and 29 TDs—but played only nine games in 2025 due to injuries, finishing with 1,927 yards, 12 TDs and five interceptions.
evaluators highlight Nussmeier’s pocket resilience, accuracy, and ability to extend plays, both with his arm and his legs. If he can reclaim the 2024 form, he represents a potential “diamond in the rough” value for teams willing to take a chance on a Day 2 quarterback in a weaker class.
If the Steelers do end up drafting Nussmeier, it would most likely come with the expectation that they address the receiver position at 21. In that scenario, Nussmeier would compete for the starting job with former sixth-round pick Will Howard. McCarthy’s familiarity with Nussmeier could be a factor in how the Steelers view and project the LSU signal-caller, should they consider him beyond the first round.
This analysis, described as an “under-the-radar” connection, was reported by Heavy Sports, with context from Sports Illustrated and ESPN on Nussmeier’s career trajectory and injury history. The takeaway for Pittsburgh is that a McCarthy-linked quarterback could influence their long-term plan, even if the 21st pick remains focused on building the pass-catching corps.
