Former Steelers LB Admires The Courageous Way Mason Rudolph Is Living Out His Favorite Tomlinism

The Pittsburgh Steelers have found an unlikely hero in third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph. Rudolph, who was drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round in 2018, has helped lead the Steelers to victory during Week 16 and Week 17, thus giving them renewed hope in making the postseason. His unlikely success has drawn attention from fans, the media, and former players. Now one former Steelers linebacker, Vince Williams, is speaking up about Rudolph's success, how he feels he was able to overcome his past struggles, and eventually become the savior of this offense. 

It is no surprise that Head Coach Mike Tomlin has named Rudolph the starter for their Week 18 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. This is despite starting quarterback, second-year Kenny Pickett apparently being healthy enough to play. During his two weeks under center, he has thrown for 564 passing yards and two touchdowns. He led the Steelers offense to put up back-to-back performances with at least 30 points, something they were not able to do under Pickett. 

Steelers' Mason Rudolph Has Taken The Tomlinisms To Heart According To Vince Williams 

Williams took to X on New Year's Day to let fans know he was going to drop his thoughts on Pickett the next day and he delivered. Rudolph and Williams were teammates for several years on the team. 

"Mason is one of the few offensive veterans who were drafted by the Steelers. One has to wonder how many times he has heard, 'The standard is the standard' and 'Next man up,' and having heard these phrases countless times, how many examples of this has he seen," posted Williams.

Tomlin is famous for saying that the only difference between starters and backups is opportunity. Rudolph was brought into the organization to be a backup to former Steelers legend, Ben Roethlisberger. During his six seasons with the Steelers, Rudolph has had chances to take the field when Roethlisberger was injured, but has spent most of the time at the bottom of the depth chart.

Pickett received a high ankle sprain during their loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Backup Mitch Trubisky came in for Pickett during that game and then spent the next couple trying to spark something with Pittsburgh's lethargic offense. When he was unable, Tomlin made a gutsy decision and announced Rudolph would start. Williams isn't surprised.

"Mason's success stems from his experience within the Steelers organization and the confidence that comes from knowing he has nothing to lose. This marks his second time stepping in to replace a starter due to injury, making it reasonable to assume that he's prepared for this moment. Also, the way he's playing is aesthetically pleasing to Steelers fans. Pittsburgh residents want to see gutsy gunslinging from their QB, throwing 50/50 balls, and giving their playmakers the chance to make plays. One of my favorite Tomlinisms is, 'We live in our hopes and dreams, not in our fears,' and Mason is perfectly personifying that."

While many outside the organization might make jokes about all of Tomlin's expressions, the players often speak about them with affection. They appreciate the way he motivates and encourages his players. 

Rudolph, who is on a one-year contract, is playing as much for his team as he is for himself. He half-heartedly joked after the exciting Week 16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, that he wasn't sure if he would be a quarterback or a real estate agent in 2024. His newfound performance will give him bargaining power in the offseason. He may have an opportunity to be re-signed by the Steelers or even to another team. 

While Tomlin was willing to confirm Rudolph's start for the final game of the season, he wasn't willing to delve into speculation regarding the postseason games. If Rudolph can pull off a win against the Ravens, it is hard to imagine moving away from the hot hand. 

The question about Pickett's performance is still up in the air. Many felt that his biggest hindrance was former Offensive Coordinator, Matt Canada, but Canada was fired. The game immediately following the loss to the Browns, the first game in his professional career without Canada, was arguably the best game of Pickett's time in the pros. Unfortunately, the next week was the game in which he was injured. That begs the question of do we really know what Pickett could or would do if he got the shot. It is clearly a huge risk given the stakes. 

Now Rudolph has added another wrinkle to the quarterback controversy that already existed in Pittsburgh. Fans are sharply divided about Pickett and whether he should be the starting quarterback next season or not. Roethlisberger recently said on his podcast that fully expects the team to go back to Pickett for next season. The team won't want to appear as if they chose a bust with their first-round selection. In the meantime, Rudolph is riding the wave of success he has managed to create.

What do you think about Williams' comments? What do you think of Rudolph's performance in the past few games? Click to comment below. 

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