The Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback situation has been the most watched position group in the NFL throughout the 2025 offseason. The room has completely turned over for the second season in a row as both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson left the organization in free agency. The team brought back Mason Rudolph after his one-year hiatus from the team, and the organization also selected Will Howard in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Skylar Thompson is also on the roster, but it is a longshot that he make the initial 53-man roster.
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Steelers' Mason Rudolph looks to throw in a Week 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens in 2023.
Rudolph is currently penciled in as Pittsburgh's starter for the 2025 season, but it is hard to imagine the organization will rely on him to start all 17 games. Veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers is expected to join the team at some point before training camp, but that saga has been going on for over two months. Rudolph was asked after practice on Tuesday about the noise surrounding the potential Rodgers addition, and he shared that it is something he is used to.
"That’s nothing new to me, there has been constant noise," Rudolph said. "That is the nature of the NFL. I’ve been used to that for a long time. Do nothing but be the best I can be and help our team get better this spring."
The quarterback has never once been considered a starter throughout his career, and there has always been outside pressure on him. His first four seasons in the NFL included him being the backup to Ben Roethlisberger, and he got the chance to play in 2019; but he was ultimately replaced by Devlin "Duck" Hodges.
After Roethlisberger's retirement following the 2021 season, Rudolph was never even really considered as the next starter for Pittsburgh. The organization signed Mitch Trubisky and drafted Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with Kenny Pickett practicing at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side in 2023.
Rudolph had his best stretch as a member of the Steelers at the end of the 2023 season. He led the organization on a three-game winning streak to end the regular season, which punched a ticket to the playoffs for Pittsburgh. He also played decently in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs that season, although the Steelers lost by two scores to the Buffalo Bills.
The quarterback left Pittsburgh in free agency and he went to sign with the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee has an unstable quarterback situation with second-year player Will Levis, but Rudolph began the year as the backup. He wound up playing in eight games while throwing nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. The numbers weren't great by any means, but maybe he can bounce back in 2025 in a place he is familiar.
Steelers' Mason Rudolph Has No Safety Heading Into 2025
If Rodgers ends up signing in Pittsburgh, Rudolph would obviously become the backup quarterback. There isn't a world where Rudolph starts over a healthy Rodgers, and that is the benefit of the doubt that Rodgers gets as a four-time league MVP. However, even if Rodgers does not sign, it does not guarantee that Rudolph will get 17 games as a starting quarterback in 2025.
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Pittsburgh Steelers' Will Howard during rookie minicamp in 2025.
The fan base and organization are excited about Howard, and the young quarterback has all of the physical tools to be able to succeed in the NFL. Without Rodgers on the roster, Rudolph should still feel pressure from the rookie who would likely be the backup. It would be interesting to see how much slack the coaching staff gives Rudolph in a scenario like this.
There are also external quarterbacks to consider in a scenario where Rodgers doesn't sign. Kirk Cousins is expected to be on Pittsburgh's radar if Rodgers ends up retiring, and there are other quarterbacks available like Carson Wentz.
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