Ben Roethlisberger Gives Mason Rudolph a Ringing Endorsement
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger raved about Mason Rudolph on his most recent Footbahlin podcast. He has full confidence in his former backup if he ends up being the Steelers’ starter in 2025.
“Mason [Rudolph] can get the guys the ball,” Roethlisberger said. “Mason can throw the ball. That’s never been a question. He can make decisions and get the ball out of his hand. He’s not afraid to take shots down the field, either.
“That’s one of the things I think that, as you’ve watched Mason when he was here and then in Tennessee, he’s not one of these guys that gets nervous and just wants to get the ball out his hands right away. He’ll sit in there, and he’ll throw it down the field. I think that’s what you’ve got to do when you have George Pickens and DK Metcalf. Those are deep down the field type guys.”
The praise was somewhat surprising, as Roethlisberger and Rudolph did not always see eye to eye as teammates. Roethlisberger never seemed extremely open towards mentoring him.
In 2023, Roethlisberger said that he never had an issue with Rudolph the moment he got drafted, contrary to popular belief.
“I didn’t have an issue with Mason when he got drafted,” Roethlisberger said. “I had more of an issue with the pick. We had a really good football team and he got drafted early. I just felt like we could have maybe picked a player who could have helped us at the moment. We were still a team that was competing. I was not worried about him taking my job, that was not an issue for me. I felt in the moment that we could have a drafted a position, offense or defense, that could have helped us. Not a guy that was going to be a potential backup or maybe have a job in the future.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin expressed at the NFL owner’s meetings that he is confident in Rudolph’s abilities if he ends up being the starter.
“We’re optimistic about the room that we’re constructing. Obviously, we’re excited about having Mason Rudolph back,” Tomlin said at the NFL owner’s meetings. “Our knowledge of him not only as a player but as a man. It’s exciting to have him back and I know he’s excited to be back. But, certainly, we are going to explore all our options to round that room out.”
Tomlin thinks Rudolph’s lengthy experience with the team is his best attribute.
“I think that’s why we re-acquired him,” Tomlin said. “We like Mason Rudolph, but, you know, that’s no secret. … His experience within our building certainly helps. Not only helps him, but helps us.”
Rudolph, 29, was selected with the No. 76 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Steelers. He spent the first six years of his career in Pittsburgh before spending last season with the Tennessee Titans. He signed a two-year deal with the Steelers in free agency earlier this month.
Rudolph’s one season in Tennessee didn’t go as planned, as he was 1-4 as a starter and Tennessee finished a disastrous 3-14.
In total, Rudolph played in eight games. On the season, he completed 64.0% of his passes for 1,530 yards with nine touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a passer rating of 55.5.
Rudolph, 28, was drafted in the third round by the Steelers out of Oklahoma State in 2018. He spent six seasons in Pittsburgh, playing in 21 games and making 13 starts. In six seasons with Pittsburgh, Rudolph completed 63.5% of his passes for 3,085 yards, 19 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 86.9.
Alan Saunders contributed reporting from Palm Beach, Fla.