The Pittsburgh Steelers have been the talk of the NFL over the last week or so as they have not had a starting quarterback on the roster. The organization has been waiting on a decision from veteran Aaron Rodgers as he takes his time deciding between the Steelers or the New York Giants. In the meantime, Pittsburgh went out and signed a familiar face at the position in Mason Rudolph.
Rob Carr / Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph during the regular season finale in 2023.
Rumors began swirling recently that Rudolph returning to Pittsburgh was a possibility, and now it is a reality as the former backup agreed to a two-year deal in Pittsburgh. Rudolph spent the 2024 season with the Tennessee Titans, and he saw some playing time, but never got to the same level of success he had with the Steelers. Mike Garafolo broke the news of the deal on Thursday morning.
A Steel City reunion: QB Mason Rudolph has agreed to a two-year, $8 million deal with $4.5 million to return to the #Steelers, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 13, 2025
Rudolph mulled multiple offers, including a return to the #Titans, but was motivated to head back to Pittsburgh. pic.twitter.com/wEC7gC7rgw
The contract isn't going to break the bank by any means for Pittsburgh, and this news does not mean he is the starting quarterback in 2025. He will likely come in as the backup, but he is a good Plan B as he has experience within the organization and started a playoff game as recently as 2023.
AP
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Mason Rudolph (2) attempts a pass against the Seattle Seahawks on December 31, 2023 at Lumen Field in Seattle, WA.
There is a large sect of the Pittsburgh fan base that wishes Rudolph was re-signed after the 2023 season and had a chance to be a true starter for the organization, but he has shown time and time again that he is nothing more than a backup. He can be serviceable and come in to keep a team competitive for a few weeks, but by no means is he a full-time starter.
Rudolph had his best stretch of games during the end of the 2023 season. Pittsburgh needed to win games to have a shot at making the postseason, and Rudolph came in and finished the regular season 3-0 as a starter. Pittsburgh lost in the Wild Card Round, but the backup quarterback was a hero for a few weeks.
He threw for three touchdowns and no interceptions over his stretch of regular season starts that year, and the offense looked fairly efficient as threw the ball for 719 yards. This was nice in the moment, but he should still be considered a backup, especially after his below-average year in Tennessee.
Steelers Still Looking For Different Solution At Quarterback
Pittsburgh is still awaiting a decision from Rodgers, and there may be a few other options out there. If no other options work out, having Rudolph in the building to start is nice, but it should not be relied upon.
Associated Press
Steelers QB Mason Rudolph leaves the field after a win in Baltimore.
The best case scenario for Pittsburgh is that the organization finds a starter elsewhere, while Rudolph can serve as one of the better backups in the league.
What do you think of the Steelers bringing back Rudolph? Let us know in the comments below!
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