Rudolph inspires the Steelers
The savior that no one believed in
By Emmanuel Schneider
January 5, 2024, 10:16 p.m
Mason Rudolph has been languishing on the bench for a long time and is even on the verge of being eliminated. But within two weeks, the 28-year-old has become the face of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ turnaround. Will the quarterback still lead the franchise into the NFL playoffs?
Most people come to rest “between the years”, this phase between Christmas and New Year, let the year end and have a good time – others suddenly become heroes and unexpected saviors. For example, Mason Rudolph. Within a week and two game days, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, who had already been written off, catapulted himself from the depths of the depth chart into the spotlight and is suddenly considered the team’s savior. This is at least surprising, perhaps even sensational.
Let’s rewind to spring 2023. Rudolph’s contract in Pennsylvania is expiring. He is a free agent. The problem: Neither the Steelers nor any other NFL team really believes in him. The situation for the playmaker outside of regular duties is so dire that he decides to update his resume for the first time since his days at Oklahoma in order to look for jobs outside of football. Was that it with professional football? It doesn’t quite get that far. He will receive a one-year contract with the Steelers worth one million dollars in mid-May. Something like the last chance. Back then, no one believed in a starter job or longer working hours. The former talent has long since become a permanent bench warmer.
Born out of necessity
Just seven months later, after a win against a playoff contender and a convincing performance in Week 17, he is smiling all that away and has the playoffs firmly in his sights again. Two games, two wins is Rudolph’s record as a starter in late December 2023. Rudolph leads the Steelers to important victories against the Cincinnati Bengals (34:11) and on New Year’s Eve against the Seattle Seahawks (30:23). He had previously come into the game for substitute Mitch Trubisky in the fourth quarter of the swat (13:30) against the Colts. Starting QB Kenny Pickett has been out injured since the beginning of December. Born out of necessity, Rudolph suddenly becomes the Steelers starter again.
Lo and behold: two games later, the world in Pittsburgh looks completely different again. It seems as if Rudolph of all people could save the six-time NFL champion’s rollercoaster season and get the team back into the playoffs. A situation that many Steelers fans had probably already written off.
Of course, two games is only a very small sample size. But the lightning analysis is this: The man unexpectedly revitalized the Steelers. He exudes calm in the most important position and finds his colleagues. If you will, he is simply in the right place at the right time. Rudolph has a completion rate of 68.5 percent, threw two touchdowns and 564 yards (35/51) and has not had an interception so far; the passer rating is 118.4. Dream values. Under the new playmaker, the offense is performing noticeably better than before. For the first time since 2020, the Steelers have back-to-back games with over 30 points.
Rudolph makes teammates better
The numbers currently speak clearly for Rudolph. He also makes his teammates better. Suddenly the previously mediocre team appears like a top team. Running back Najee Harris put up 122 yards against the Seahawks, and wide receiver George Pickens had 131 yards. In both games alongside Rudolph, Pickens thrived with strong 11 catches, 326 yards and 2 touchdowns. Pickens raves about the team’s camaraderie. “It feels different, the boys are coming together,” he said. The numbers show: Rudolph throws deep balls significantly more often and more accurately than Pickett or Trubisky. He makes good decisions even under time pressure.
Now, of all times, Pickett, who was actually the starting QB, reported fit again after a knee injury, which brings a certain explosiveness to the Steelers’ lineup. Head coach Mike Tomlin made his decision long ago. In Week 18 he relies on Rudolph again. “We leave the ball in Mason’s hands,” Tomlin said. “He’s done a good job in the last two weeks and so have we.” Never change a winning team.
The last time he started twice in a row was in 2019. He will be allowed to start a third time against Baltimore on the final day of the regular season. And then for the Steelers it’s all about the playoffs. The starting position before the final game day: The Steelers have to win and also need help, for example a defeat by the Bills (vs. Dolphins) or Jaguars (vs. Tennessee Titans). Doesn’t sound impossible. Especially since the Steelers (9-7) are playing on Saturday (10:30 p.m. live on NITRO) against the Ravens (13-3), for whom nothing is at stake and who will probably rest some players.
Not a good start for the Pittsburgh Steelers
For Rudolph, the recent success and recognition is a late satisfaction. The QB once joined the team in 2018 as a talent in the third round of the draft – Steelers icon Ben Roethlisberger, of all people, was not very impressed with the selection. The star QB said at the time that they could have brought in a player at the position who could help the team immediately and not a backup for him. Sentences that meet the talent.
He received his first assignments in his second year, 2019, when Roethlisberger seriously injured his shoulder. The starter mission is difficult. In the third game, Rudolph received a heavy hit to the head and briefly fainted. A few games later there was a memorable scene against the Cleveland Browns. Opponent Myles Garrett and Rudolph clash after a late hit. During the fight, Garrett rips Rudolph’s helmet off and then hits him with it. Myles Garrett accused the Steelers QB of a racist insult, but there is still no evidence of this. In the middle of the next game, Rudolph was benched.
In 2020, Roethlisberger moved back into the forefront, and Rudolph even lost his backup job in some cases. After “Big Ben” retired in 2021, the Steelers brought in Trubisky and drafted Pickett. Rudolph was once again left behind. He can only present himself in training against the starters – but also learn a lot. Last year, Rudolph didn’t play a single snap. The situation comes to a head, the CV comes out and then, as we all know, everything changes. On the last day of the game there is a lot at stake for Rudolph. Virtually no team wanted him in 2023. If he leads the Steelers into the promised playoff land with another sensational performance, then he will probably have the final say in the next negotiations as to what happens next year. He then doesn’t have to edit the CV any further.