The Pittsburgh Steelers brought back a familiar face during the 2025 offseason in quarterback Mason Rudolph. Rudolph was originally drafted by Pittsburgh back in 2018, and he spent six seasons with the team. He left the organization during the 2024 offseason, but he returned to the quarterback-needy Steelers after the franchise couldn't land Justin Fields and chose not to re-sign Russell Wilson. Pittsburgh is still trying to ink a deal with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but for the time being Rudolph is penciled in as the starting quarterback for the Steelers.
Rudolph's first stint in Pittsburgh was rocky. There were some difficult moments, including essentially the entire 2019 season. The quarterback was also able to create some good memories as he led the Steelers on a three game winning streak to end the 2023 season and punch a ticket to the playoffs.
Pittsburgh got embarrassed in the first round, but the Steelers never would have been there in the first place had it not been for Rudolph coming in a playing great. This led to Rudolph getting a decent deal from the Tennessee Titans for the 2024 season, but things didn't go great there.
The veteran quarterback is back to start or serve as a backup to Rodgers or some other veteran quarterback that comes in. He spoke to the media on WTAE during an appearance at the Chik-Fil-A Pittsburgh Kids Marathon about his appreciation for Pittsburgh and the fan base.
"Being back in the city of Pittsburgh, it’s a sports town like no other.” Rudolph said. “So anytime we get to repay that, it’s always a fun opportunity."
The quarterback was not looked on fondly throughout most of his first stint in Pittsburgh, but his run at the end of the 2023 season changed a lot of people's opinions on him. Some even want to see him start in 2025. In a few of those cases that might be so that the Steelers can lose some more games and get out of this constant case of mediocrity, while other fans truly believe Rudolph has what it takes to be a starting quarterback.
Rudolph did not play great with Tennessee in 2024. He started five games and appeared in eight games total while recording nine touchdown passes and nine interceptions. Everything that was going on in Tennessee was a mess during the 2024 season, which is a big reason that franchise had the first overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
The quarterback is now back with a steady organization that has some higher expectations, and it will be interesting to see how he plays after spending a season away from Pittsburgh. Based on his history, it is hard to imagine Rudolph will be able to make it through an entire season as a starter if the Steelers are unable to add Rodgers or another veteran.
Steelers' Mason Rudolph Should Feel Some Pressure
If Rodgers does not sign Rudolph will start, but he will be the backup if the four-time MVP eventually decides to come to Pittsburgh. In either scenario there is a world where Rudolph gets supplanted by rookie quarterback Will Howard.
If Rudolph is just the backup he can lose that job in training camp if Howard performs well, which is certainly a reality. Howard being in the backup role would also benefit the organization more as it ensures the rookie will get snaps during practices throughout the season, which will help in his development.
If Rudolph is trusted to be the starter for a full 17 games, it is hard to imagine he will be able to get past the halfway point of the season. Even during his heroic stretch with Pittsburgh in 2023 his numbers were fairly pedestrian, even while considering one of those games was essentially played in a monsoon.
