For the Pittsburgh Steelers, all eyes were on Aaron Rodgers Tuesday as he participated in his first official practice as a member of the team. However, just under a week ago, it seemed like Mason Rudolph was finally going to get his shot to be a Week 1 starter in the NFL. With the signing of Rodgers, it is unlikely we will see much field action for Rudolph this upcoming season now, but he is welcoming Rodgers to the team with open arms.
Gene J. Puskar / AP photo
Steelers' Mason Rudolph and Pat Freiermuth warm up before an OTA practice during the week of June 2, 2025.
When Rudolph signed back with the Steelers in March, he was just as aware of the connection between the Steelers and Rodgers as anyone else. Still, Rudolph decided to sign a multi-year contract with the team he departed from just one year later.
Rudolph spoke to the media after the first day of mandatory minicamp concluded and offered his experiences with Rodgers so far. Steelers reporter Brian Batko shared Rudolph's thoughts on his first practice with Rodgers on X.
"[Rodgers] has been very inquisitive about the offense and very friendly, so it's been fun," explained Rudolph.
For Rudolph, it is a truly mature response and one that shows that he is fully bought into the organization's plans for him and the rest of the team for this season. Rudolph signed a two-year, $7.5 million deal with the team back in March. For someone as well-liked in Pittsburgh as Rudolph, it is great to see his excitement about playing with Rodgers. Although Rudolph was not with the team during Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith's first season, it is also encouraging to hear that Rudolph was willing to offer Rodgers some insight into the offense and how it might look for the team in the upcoming season.
Rebecca Blackwell / AP Photo
Former Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph evades a sack during a game against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football on September 30, 2024.
The Steelers drafted Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the 76th overall selection. They traded up three spots from their original 79th pick to be able to select Rudolph. At the time, he was supposed to be the heir apparent succession plan to then quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Needless to say, things did not get off to the best of starts for Rudolph at the beginning of his career.
He rarely saw the field and it was publicly known that Roethlisberger and Rudolph had a rocky relationship throughout the early years in the league for the two. After an injury to former first-round pick Kenny Pickett, and the benching of Mitch Trubisky, Rudolph shined and secured the Steelers a playoff spot in the 2023 season. They eventually fell to the Buffalo Bills 31-17 in the Wild Card Round. Rudolph then left the team in free agency and signed a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans.
For Rudolph, his homecoming was well received by fans. His comments Tuesday show he is excited about what his future holds in Pittsburgh and is willing to help Rodgers when he needs it.
Steelers Have A Clear Plan At Quarterback Beyond 2025
It would be shocking to see anyone else be added of significance to the Steelers' quarterback room before the start of the 2025 regular season. It also seems that there will be a clear pecking order on the depth chart. Rodgers will be the starter, Rudolph as the backup, and sixth-round pick rookie Will Howard and former Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson to battle for the third spot on the Steelers' active roster. The loser likely would head to the practice squad. While the team's roster construction heavily catered to the eventual signing of Rodgers, they also made clear steps to have a plan after Rodgers' contract expires.
Sebastian Foltz / Post Gazette
Will Howard throwing a pass during Steelers OTA's during the week of June 2, 2025.
Not only did the Steelers get the veteran quarterback they wanted in Rodgers, they brought in Rudolph and Thompson on new contracts and invested a late draft pick in Howard. Basically every single way you can bring in a new quarterback, the Steelers did. It was a complete and total overhaul of the room for yet another season. However, with more draft capital than usual expected for the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, the Steelers are also primed to add a top prospect within the first couple of nights in the upcoming draft for 2026.
What do you think of the Steelers' quarterback room for now and the future? Let us know in the comments below!
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