Steelers' Cameron Heyward Thrilled Mason Rudolph Is Back: "I Think We Feel Good About It"

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been in quarterback purgatory ever since future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger retired at the end of the 2021 season. They went out on a limb and chose Kenny Pickett in the 2022 NFL Draft with the 20th overall pick. The University of Pittsburgh fans were ecstatic, but the rest of the fan base was worried if Pickett could handle the pros, even with help from veteran Mitch Trubisky.  

Those two seasons were nothing short of a disaster. Former Offensive Coordinator Matt Canada didn't seem to know how to run a professional-level offense. Pickett had some good games, but was terribly inconsistent, and Trubisky was not any better. Head Coach Mike Tomlin is known for his loyalty to his veterans; he will often stand by those players almost to a fault. That is why so many were surprised when he stuck with Mason Rudolph as the 2023 season wound down. Trubisky was playing for an injured Pickett in Week 14 and was benched by Tomlin in favor of Rudolph. While it was too late to win that game, Rudolph won the next week, and Tomlin decided to ride the hot hand. Their first-round draft pick was now benched in favor of the longtime backup. 

The Steelers are once again without a starting quarterback, and they turned back to their old friend Rudolph and re-signed him to a two-year deal. On his podcast, Not Just Football with Cam Heyward, Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward said that he is thrilled to see Rudolph return to the Steel City. 

"Mason's a good dude," Heyward told his co-host Hayden Walsh. "I think Mason proved to a lot of Steelers fans, not just this past year, but last year when he stepped in for us, that he was ready. You know, if we don't sign a quarterback, and we go in the year with Mason, I think we feel good about it. Excited to have him back. He's really a guy for the locker room, and a lot of guys vibe with him. So to bring him back, part of the group is special."

Rudolph won the must-win games and got the Steelers to the postseason in 2023. Unfortunately, the hot hand cooled off, and the Buffalo Bills dismantled Rudolph and the Steelers in the Wild Card Round. The franchise decided to move on from all three quarterbacks that were roster that year after the playoff loss, and many fans felt it was a mistake, saying they should have kept Rudolph and given him a shot. 

During his year with the Tennessee Titans, Rudolph had five starts after replacing an injured Will Levis. He completed 146 of 228 attempted passes for 1,530 yards and nine touchdowns with nine interceptions. 

Steelers Made A Big Wide Receiver Move

Regardless of who ends up as the starting quarterback in 2025, that person will have another big weapon to throw the ball to because the team traded for DK Metcalf. The 2024 season was largely frustrating because of the lack of a wide receiver two (WR2). While everyone assumed they would find a partner for George Pickens, few expected them to go this big.  

Heyward said he loves the move because Metcalf helps to "elevate" the wide receiver room. He thinks that he and Pickens will make a formidable duo, opening opportunities not only for each other, but also for Calvin Austin III and Pat Freiermuth. He said that he appreciates how Metcalf plays "p***ed off" and brings that to the run game with his excellent blocking. 

Do you think Rudolph can successfully lead the Steelers to winning at least a playoff game? Tell us what you think below!

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