Former Steelers QB Mason Rudolph Not Guaranteed Backup Job In Tennessee: “Split Reps Pretty Evenly”

Pittsburgh Steelers fans thought their season was over when the team lost three straight games in December 2023, putting a major dent in their playoff hopes. However, an unlikely hero, Mason Rudolph, saved the Steelers' season. Rudolph stepped in for the final three games of the regular season and led the team into the playoffs.

In 2023, Rudolph started three regular season games, passing for 719 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He revitalized the offense, helped the Steelers win games, and improved the team's attitude and effort. Even when Kenny Pickett was healthy enough to return, Rudolph maintained the starting position.

This offseason, Rudolph left the Steelers in free agency, signing a one-year deal worth $2.87 million with the Tennessee Titans. The Titans' quarterback room now includes Will Levis, Malik Willis, and Rudolph. Steelers fans are curious about Rudolph's position on the depth chart. Titans' new Head Coach, Brian Callahan recently spoke to the media about the ongoing quarterback competition.

"It's a fair competition. They're going to both get a fair shake at the two job, and we're both up front with both those guys telling 'em that's how it's going to work. They'll split reps pretty evenly. They'll get a chance to play quite a bit in the preseason, and that's usually where it separates is the game action when you really get the evaluation."

It seems most likely that Rudolph will beat out Willis for the backup role, but it is not guaranteed. Rudolph left the Steelers because he was tired of being the third-string quarterback and believed the Titans would offer him a genuine chance to compete for the backup position. 

Callahan and the Titans organization are still evaluating Rudolph before determining his place on the depth chart. Currently, it's an open competition, with Levis expected to be the starter.

"There's going to be ups and downs. There will be days where you come out and one looks better than the other. The evaluation is a totality of all their time in the offseason, training camp and the preseason games. So it's an ongoing evaluation and there's going to be ebbs and flows, and guys will look good one day and not as good the other. And so you're trying to get their totality of work as to who's best equipped to be the number two."

Rudolph was drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft and spent his entire career with the Steelers. Now, he's excited to be in a new situation. Steelers fans will always be grateful to Rudolph for stepping up and saving their season. The Steelers seemingly wanted to keep Rudolph but saw opportunities to acquire Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, making it unnecessary to give Rudolph a raise to remain the third-string quarterback.

With the Titans, Rudolph is in a good position to secure the full-time backup role. If he had stayed with the Steelers, he would have been the third string given how the offseason unfolded. Steelers fans will keep an eye on Rudolph's role with the Titans, secretly rooting for him—unless, of course, he's playing against the Steelers.

Steelers' Mason Rudolph Had A Tough Time In Pittsburgh

The Steelers drafted Rudolph with hopes he could learn under Ben Roethlisberger. Reports suggested that Roethlisberger was unhappy with the decision to draft his potential replacement instead of a playmaker, making Rudolph's welcome to Pittsburgh a bit rocky. Roethlisberger has claimed that he offered help, but Rudolph was not interested.

Rudolph was also involved in the infamous Myles Garrett helmet-swinging incident, during which Garrett accused Rudolph of using a racial slur. Although no evidence was found to support Garrett's accusation, the incident was one of many challenging moments for Rudolph. However, Garrett's actions during the altercation were undoubtedly the most severe.

Regardless, Rudolph never fully developed into what the Steelers had hoped for. However, he delivered some memorable highlights during the 2023 season. Steelers fans wish him the best of luck with his new team.

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