Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph is not bothered by the controversy around Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers has been linked to the Steelers for some time, but has not made a decision on whether he will play in 2025, or if he does, where.
“That’s nothing new to me. There’s been constant noise,” Rudolph said. “That is the nature of the NFL. So I am used to that for a long time. Now I’m doing nothing but being the best I can be to help our team get better this spring.”
Rudolph was drafted by the Steelers out of Oklahoma State in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent the first five seasons of his career as the backup quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger. He started eight games in place of “Big Ben” in 2019, going 5-3 and passing for 1,765 yards, 13 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He started and lost one game in 2020, then started and tied a game in 2021.
After Roethlisberger retired in 2022, the Steelers signed Mitchell Trubisky in free agency and drafted Kenny Pickett out of Pittsburgh in the first round of the NFL Draft. Rudolph was relegated to the third-string QB and did not play at all that season.
Pickett went down with an injury in 2023, while poor play by Trubisky led to Rudolph being called up to the starting job in Week 16.
He started the final three games of the season, going 3-0 while throwing for 719 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He threw for 229 yards and two TDs with an interception in his first playoff game, a 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
“We won games down the stretch there, at an important time,” Rudolph recounted.
“And I just think we played complementary football. And, you know, the more time I spend in the NFL, you learn that it takes complementary football, special teams, offense, defense.
“[Head coach Mike Tomlin] put the statistics up today. I think we were the last two years, top two, No. 2, No. 3, in turnover margin here. So that comes from the culture that Mike T has created with ball-search and ball-security, and so that’s something we’re all working towards.”
Rudolph signed a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans to provide a veteran locker room presence behind second-year pro Will Levis.
He went 1-4 as a starter, throwing for 1,530 yards and nine TDs with nine interceptions; he also filled in for an injured Levis in the first half of a Week 4 game against the Miami Dolphins and led the team to a 31-12 win.
Steelers.com asked Rudolph what he got out of his year in Tennessee.
“I think just perspective and experience and a different staff and a different team, and a lot of adversity, but a lot of good lessons learned,” he replied.
Going into his eighth season as a pro, Rudolph is currently the elder statesman of the Steelers’ quarterback room. Pittsburgh has former Dolphins QB Skylar Thompson and 2025 sixth-round pick Will Howard on the roster.
“I just think [Pittsburgh is] a special place,” Rudolph said of his decision to return. “You know, I’ve got a lot of great friends and teammates here, a lot of comfortability with (head coach) Mike T and the staff, and (general manager) Omar (Khan) put together a great roster. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of this team and this offense?”
During a Q&A session at an event hosted by rapper Mike Stud over the weekend, a young fan asked the four-time MVP if he would ever play for the Chicago Bears. While Rodgers was quick to respond that he wouldn’t be going to the Bears, he indicated he wouldn’t mind still going to Chicago to face the Bears this season.
“No,” Rodgers responded to the question. “But I believe there’s a team that might play in Chicago this year on a road trip.”
When someone followed up by asking, “What team?” Rodgers became coy.
“I don’t know, not sure. Got to check it out,” said Rodgers. “I love Chicago, though. Way more than they love me. It’s been a great relationship. All one way.”
Outside of the divisional opponents in the Lions, Packers, and Vikings, the Bears will also host the Browns, Steelers, Giants, Saints, and Cowboys.
Of those five, only the Steelers and Saints have a pronounced need at QB. Another question from this session was whether Rodgers had an interest in playing for New Orleans.
“No,” Rodgers replied. “I’ve played there a couple of times, but no. The answer is no. I’m too old. I don’t want to live in Louisiana. Sorry.”
That leaves the Pittsburgh Steelers, who will visit Chicago in Week 12 on Nov. 23.
