Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Reveals The Truth Behind His Frustration Over Mason Rudolph Pick

When the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted quarterback Mason Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, longtime franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t thrilled about the decision. He made comments shortly after the pick expressing surprise and confusion, believing the team could have used that third-round selection on a player who could immediately contribute. At 36 years old and still leading the offense, Roethlisberger felt the move did little to help the team win in the moment.

It was clear the Steelers were starting to think about life after Roethlisberger, but it was a tricky situation to navigate. The organization wanted to prepare for the future without causing unnecessary friction with their veteran quarterback. In the eyes of many, the decision risked damaging their relationship with Roethlisberger at a time when he was still capable of taking the team deep into the playoffs.

On Tuesday, Roethlisberger spoke about the situation on his Footbahlin podcast and clarified that he was never angry with Rudolph. His frustration was directed at the Steelers, who he felt wasted a valuable draft pick. From his perspective, the team could have used that selection to fill a more immediate need instead of drafting a quarterback who was unlikely to see the field.

"It’s the same thing when they drafted Mason," Roethlisberger said. "I made comments—I don’t even remember my comments—but I was like, 'Why did we draft Mason?' It wasn’t a shot at Mason. They could have drafted Patrick Mahomes or whoever. It wasn’t a shot at the person. It was a question of, how are we making our team better by drafting a guy in the third round that’s gonna be a backup quarterback?"

Roethlisberger had made it clear he intended to play for at least a few more years, and while Rudolph eventually became a solid backup, he didn’t see the pick as helpful in the short-term. 

At the time, Roethlisberger believed the Steelers were just a few key pieces away from making a deep postseason run. His frustration stemmed from the belief that a third-round pick is incredibly valuable, and in his eyes, the selection did nothing to strengthen the team for that season.

"Like, how is that helping our team?" Roethlisberger said. "The guy may not even see the field… What are we doing? Go find a need in the third round."

Despite his initial frustration, Roethlisberger did make an effort to support Rudolph once he joined the team. He helped when he could and answered questions, but he made it clear that he never saw it as his responsibility to be a mentor. 

According to Roethlisberger, over time it began to feel like Rudolph wasn’t looking for guidance anyway, which made the dynamic even more complicated.

Steelers Tried To Balance The Future Without Losing The Present

The relationship between the two quarterbacks remained professional and respectful, but it was never particularly close. It was a tense situation for everyone involved, with the Steelers caught in the middle of trying to develop a potential successor while still being led by a future Hall of Famer. Most Steelers fans understood Roethlisberger’s frustration and didn’t fault him for the way he handled things.

In the end, it was simply a strange period in Pittsburgh. The franchise was trying to plan for life after Roethlisberger without creating unnecessary friction, but the execution was far from perfect. While the Rudolph pick didn’t shape the Steelers' future as hoped, it did highlight the challenge of managing a transition at the game’s most important position—especially with a proud, accomplished veteran still at the helm.

As the 2025 season inches closer, it’s interesting to now hear Roethlisberger watch Rudolph prepare to lead the team. Of course, all eyes remain on Aaron Rodgers and whether he’s coming or not. If Rodgers doesn’t join the team, Rudolph will likely be the starter for the 2025 season.

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