The Pittsburgh Steelers play in one of the most physical divisions in the NFL. The AFC North has some great rivalries, with the largest one probably being between Pittsburgh and the Baltimore Ravens. The Steelers also have a decent rivalry going with the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals, but both of those franchises have struggled a bit more which hurts the rivalry. This is especially true with the Browns who have never won the division, and have basically been a doormat for the rest of the league throughout the 21st century. Despite the team's struggles, the organization has had some incredible players over the years.
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Steelers' Aaron Rodgers looks to escape from the pocket while being chased down by former Brown Myles Garrett.
Joe Thomas, Nick Chubb, and Myles Garrett are just a few of the great Browns that have taken the field against the Steelers over the years. Garrett is a complete specimen as he broke the single-season sack record in 2025, but Cleveland finally decided to move on from the future Hall of Famer during the 2026 offseason. There were some thoughts that this could have happened a year before, but Garrett wound up signing a new contract then. He was officially traded to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick.
The teams in the NFC West hated this move, but the teams in the AFC North are definitely happy with Garrett being shipped off to the West Coast. The Steelers no longer have to worry about him twice a year, which is a relief considering the starting quarterback for the franchise is 42 years old. Backup quarterback Mason Rudolph joined Not Just Football With Cam Heyward on Wednesday, and he was asked about his thoughts on the move.
"Off to a hot start here," Rudolph said. "As a Pittsburgh Steeler, I'm thrilled that he is no longer in the AFC North. I think Mike McCarthy's fired up about that, I think Brian Angelichio is fired up about that. I know our tackles are fired up about that. And the top of my frontal lobe, yes."
This question from Cam Heyward obviously has some relevance due to the incident that happened between Rudolph and Garrett back in 2019. During a Thursday Night Football game between the Steelers and the Browns the quarterback completed a pass and then was hit a bit late by Garrett. A fight followed, and Garrett eventually ripped Rudolph's own helmet off his head and hit him in the forehead with it, hence the frontal lobe comment.
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Mason Rudolph warms up before the Steelers’ game against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field.
The two sides have squashed all of their beef since this incident happened, and they will be seeing less of one another since Garrett is now a member of the Rams. Rudolph's contract with the Steelers expires after the 2026 season, but Pittsburgh is scheduled to take on the NFC West in 2027. If Rudolph finds a way to stick around and sign another deal with the franchise, he could see Garrett again next season.
There was a ton of aftermath from this incident back in 2019. Garrett wasn't allowed to play for the rest of the season as he was suspended indefinitely, and he also made a claim that Rudolph used a slur on the field, but the NFL said there was no sort of evidence to support that.
Steelers' Mason Rudolph Has Had A Rough Time In The AFC North
Rudolph has not played a ton in his career as he has mostly been a backup quarterback, but he has some notable moments in the history of the AFC North. A few came during the 2019 season, with one being the incident with Garrett. Earlier that season, the Steelers were playing the Ravens and the quarterback was completely knocked out while moving around in the backfield. It was a scary moment and several teammates were clearly shaken up from the play.
The backup also has some great moments, including going 3-0 at the end of the 2023 season to punch Pittsburgh's ticket to the postseason.
What do you think about Rudolph's comments on the trade? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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