Mason Rudolph’s ongoing commitment to the Pittsburgh Steelers has once again been met with disappointment, as the veteran quarterback finds himself pushed aside amid the team’s uncertain—and some would argue chaotic—quarterback plans heading into 2025.
Re-signed by the Steelers this offseason, Rudolph was initially brought back as a familiar face and a safety net at the position. A third-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Rudolph has spent the bulk of his career in Pittsburgh, even leading the team to a surprise playoff berth in 2023 after being passed over in favor of Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett. When injuries forced him back into action late in the season, Rudolph delivered the best football of his career, guiding the Steelers into the postseason before falling to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round.
Despite that performance—and years of professionalism despite being overlooked—Rudolph is once again the odd man out. The Steelers’ quarterback situation has unraveled with a series of questionable moves. With Russell Wilson and Justin Fields both now gone and the team seemingly holding out for a long-rumored signing of Aaron Rodgers, Rudolph’s chances of starting are likely slipping away again.
Rodgers, a surefire Hall of Famer, is expected to land in Pittsburgh before the season begins. That arrival would all but seal Rudolph’s fate as a backup yet again—something he’s all too familiar with.
“That’s nothing new to me,” Rudolph said earlier this week. “There’s been constant noise—that is the nature of the NFL, so I have been used to that for a long time now. I do nothing but be the best I can be and help our team get better this spring.”
It’s a familiar refrain from the 29-year-old quarterback, who has been a steady, team-first presence even as his path to the starting job has repeatedly been blocked. Even dating back to his early days in Pittsburgh, when then-starter Ben Roethlisberger bristled at the idea of mentoring him, Rudolph has faced friction and cold shoulders within his own locker room. He’s hinted at the lack of support from Roethlisberger in the past, and the overall treatment he’s received from the franchise has left much to be desired.
While no one is proclaiming Mason Rudolph to be the franchise’s long-term answer under center, his work ethic, resilience, and ability to deliver in crucial moments have made a strong case for more than what he’s been given. Instead, the Steelers appear ready to once again relegate him to the background—this time in favor of a 41-year-old quarterback who, while legendary, may only have a year or two left in the tank.
After years of loyalty, perseverance, and playoff-level performance under pressure, Mason Rudolph deserves more than a perpetual backup role and a revolving door of veterans taking his place. Whether Pittsburgh will ever recognize that remains to be seen.
