Steelers All 90: Why Was Pittsburgh the Place for QB Tanner Morgan?

Former Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan had multiple teams calling after the 2023 Draft concluded but as soon as the Steelers called, Morgan knew where he wanted to be. At the time, Mason Rudolph was still un-signed but even after his return, the Steelers kept him around.

Morgan stated that he knew that he was either going to be a late-round draft pick or an undrafted free agent and was comfortable with that fact.

“Saturday, the last day of the draft, was probably the longest day for me because I knew the first two days nothing was going to happen,” said Morgan. “I was just hanging out with my wife and my family. Saturday was definitely long. Just the way it was going I thought there’s a chance, but I knew it was either going to be sixth or seventh round or an undrafted free agent opportunity. As the draft kept going on, I kind of knew that there were only certain other places where it could happen. We just kind of monitored it that way.”

After the draft wrapped up, he fielded some phone calls from other teams but once he spoke to Steelers quarterback coach Mike Sullivan he started telling other teams that he is going to be a Steeler.

“It was the place where I wanted to go,” said Morgan. “When they called, I basically accepted the deal, and my agents, they were kind of doing the work as soon as the draft ended, and as soon as I talked to Coach (Mike) Sullivan it was a done deal. When other teams called, I just said I was going to be a Steeler.”

Upon signing with the Steelers, Morgan was one of three quarterbacks on the roster but after Rudolph’s return, Morgan now sits fourth on the depth chart. While that dampers his chances of making the final roster, Morgan is still happy to be a Steeler and stated that he looks up to the other guys in the quarterback room.

“It’s three great quarterbacks and great people in Kenny and Mitch and Mason,” Morgan said. ” It’s an opportunity where I’m super excited to be part of that room and to learn from those guys. Just be involved in the day-to-day process. It’s a fantastic culture that’s been built over a long period of time and that’s incredibly attractive. It’s great coaches and I’m excited to learn from them, and obviously a lot of great players and I’m just excited to go in and learn and be an asset in any way that I can.”

Morgan will have the chance to beat out Rudolph in training camp and preseason but it is unlikely due to the monetary difference in their contracts and Rudolph’s overwhelming experience not only in the NFL but within the Steelers organization itself. While it is evident that the Steelers like Morgan, they liked Rudolph more than enough to bring him back after signing Morgan.

5 • Tanner Morgan, Quarterback, Minnesota
6-foot-2, 200 pounds, 24 years old, 1st Season

Acquired: The Steelers signed Morgan as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023. This came before the team decided to bring Mason Rudolph back but Morgan has stuck around since Rudolph’s return.

Last season: Morgan took advantage of the extra year of eligibility due to COVID and returned to Minnesota for a sixth season. In 2022, Morgan started eight of the nine games that he appeared in. He completed 107-of-160 passes for a career-high 67% of his passes. On his 107 completions, Morgan threw for 1,382 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions.

He missed three games (Northwestern, Iowa, and Wisconsin) due to injury in 2022.

Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan celebrates after the Golden Gophers scored a touchdown.

College: Morgan, a Kentucky native, decided to take his talents north to Minnesota to continue his football career. As a freshman in 2017, Morgan did not play for the Golden Gophers as he sat out on a redshirt. In 2018, Morgan appeared in nine games and started the final six of the season. He completed 59% of his passes as he threw for 1,401 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions. His 1,401 passing yards ranked second by any Gopher freshman in school history.

In 2019, Morgan had the season of his life. He started all 13 games for Minnesota and broke school records with 3,253 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. In a game against Purdue, Morgan completed 21-of-22 passes for 396 yards and four touchdown passes. Morgan was named second-team All-Big Ten following the 2019 season.

COVID shortened the 2020 season but Morgan started all seven games for the Golden Gophers. He completed 58% of his passes for 1,374 yards and seven touchdowns. Following the season, Morgan was named an honorable mention All-Big Ten.

In 2021, Morgan started all 13 games for the second time in his collegiate career. He completed 149-of-250 passes for 2,044 yards, 10 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

Morgan started 47 of the 51 games that he appeared in for the Golden Gophers and his 33 wins rank first in school history. He also owns the Minnesota records for most passing yards in a season with 3,253 yards and most passing touchdowns in a season with 30, both he set in 2019.

Salary cap and future: Morgan signed with the Steelers as a priority undrafted free agent which makes his deal worth three years. If he makes the team in 2023, Morgan will cost $758,333 against the team’s cap space.

If the Steelers chose to release Morgan, the team would incur $25,000 in dead money but would save $733,333 in cap space.

The rest of the 90: