Mason Rudolph Gets Major Hype From Steelers 2-Time Super Bowl Champion
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have to start backup Mason Rudolph in Week 12 against the Chicago Bears. But if that happens, former Steelers defensive lineman Chris Hoke argued the offense is in good hands.
Hoke wouldn’t go so far as to say Rudolph should be starting instead of 4-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. But with the chance to play, Hoke stated Rudolph could be the next breakout star quarterback.
“Listen, if Aaron Rodgers is healthy, he’s going to play,” Hoke said on the KDKA Nightly Sports Call in Pittsburgh, via Steelers Depot’s Jake Brockhoff. “But you’re looking at Mason Rudolph, and it’s almost a situation where I start to wonder, it’s almost like a Sam Darnold, where all of the sudden, he clicks.
“If Mason Rudolph is given the opportunity and the keys to the car, will he run with this thing and do well? I believe if he is given the keys to the car and no leash, I think he can do well for the Steelers.”
Sam Darnold had a rough outing in Week 11, throwing four interceptions with zero touchdowns. But Darnold broke out with the Minnesota Vikings last season after J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury over the summer.
With the Seattle Seahawks this season, Darnold was an MVP candidate with a 71.1% completion percentage, 2,262 passing yards and 17 touchdowns before Week 11. In his first nine games this season, he averaged 9.9 yards per attempt.
Could Mason Rudolph Be the Next Sam Darnold?
Comparing Rudolph to Darnold is high praise for the Steelers backup. But it makes sense Hoke, who won a pair of Super Bowls with Pittsburgh during the 2005 and 2008 seasons, would have confidence in Rudolph.
In 2023, Rudolph came on to replace an injured Kenny Pickett and struggling Mitch Trubisky. Rudolph brought the Steelers back from the brink, leading them to three consecutive wins to end the regular season.
During those three contests, Rudolph posted a 74.3% completion percentage, 9.7 yards per pass and three touchdowns with zero picks.
Granted, that was a small sample. Rudolph was also only a third-round pick, not the No. 3 overall selection in the NFL Draft as Darnold once was.
Darnold is finally fulfilling his expected potential. As a third-round pick, though, Rudolph wasn’t a consensus projected future starter in the league.
But those three 2023 starts will give a lot of pundits confidence that Rudolph will at least be serviceable for the Steelers if Rodgers has to miss any games.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters after Sunday’s win versus the Cincinnati Bengals that Rodgers has a left wrist injury. Tomlin added that Rodgers will undergo further evaluation Monday.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday the “initial concern” for Rodgers is that he has a break in his wrist. But that won’t be confirmed or refuted until the quarterback gets more tests to begin the week.
Rudolph played the entire second half Sunday in Rodgers’s absence. Rudolph completed 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards with a touchdown and zero picks.
Could Rudolph be Long-Term QB Solution for Steelers?
Every start for an NFL quarterback is an opportunity. If Rodgers can’t play on November 23, Rudolph will get another chance to show what he can do as a starter.
If he plays well enough with a big enough sample to end 2025, could Rudolph still be Pittsburgh’s long-term solution behind center? Hoke obviously believes that’s possible.
Should that happen, that would be a huge boost for the Steelers. Speculation has already run wild about what the organization could do at quarterback next offseason. Rumors have suggested Rodgers could come back.
As of November 17, Rodgers deserves to return as the Steelers starter for 2026. But the team surely wouldn’t mind having other options.
If he plays well, Rudolph would give the Steelers another option. He could even be one of the better options, given the potential free agent quarterbacks and Pittsburgh’s 2026 draft position.
In 18 NFL starts, Rudolph is 9-8-1 with a 62.76% completion percentage and 6.8 yards per pass. He also has 3,963 passing yards and 23 touchdowns versus 18 interceptions.
Steelers' highly touted offseason addition gets bad news after impressive performance
The Pittsburgh Steelers have largely been a disappointment on defense throughout the first half or so of the 2025 season. That side of the ball relies on turnovers and often struggles getting off of the field, but the group has shown some improvements as the season has gone along. Those improvements have come with schematic adjustments as well as significant personnel changes, whether that be from injuries, poor play, or new additions. In recent weeks, Kyle Dugger has been a new addition who has played well, and James Pierre has shone while filling in for a beat-up cornerback room.
Pierre has been with Pittsburgh since the 2020 season, when he signed with the team as an undrafted free agent. He had a short stint with the Washington Commanders as well at the start of the 2024 season, but he ultimately wound up back in Pittsburgh. He has mostly just been a depth piece and a special teamer throughout his career, but he has been shining on defense in recent weeks. It started with a few good plays against the Los Angeles Chargers in relief of an injured Darius Slay, and he played well in Slay's spot against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, too.
Slay missed the game against the Bengals due to a concussion, and team insider Mark Kaboly believes there is a chance that Slay may have lost his starting job. He spoke about this during an appearance on 93.7 The Fan
"There's not one of us here that was thinking, 'Boy, James Pierre is gonna shut down Higgins and Chase,' said Kaboly. "We were thinking, 'Oh geez, this is gonna get ugly.' Why hasn't this guy been playing for two or three weeks now? Why hasn't he been playing for the last year if he's been that good? Or is this just a one off? I don't know, I guess we'll find out. But you can't bring Slay back right now. No way you can bring him back."
Pierre was receiving praise from everyone after the game against the Bengals, including his head coach, Mike Tomlin. Pierre had a tough test in front of him as the Bengals roster arguably has the best wide receiver duo in the league with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, as well as several capable third options. Pierre stood up to the challenge, and he was a big reason Cincinnati's passing attack was largely shut down.
Pierre had opportunities for an interception in each of the last two games. He nearly picked off Justin Herbert along the sidelines while playing the Chargers, and the same thing almost happened to end the game on Sunday. Pierre did scoop up a fumble and return it for a touchdown in the win over the Bengals, and he also did a good job tackling.
There is no reason for Pittsburgh to return to playing Slay at outside cornerback once he returns from his concussion. He should now be a depth piece, as Pittsburgh needs to see just how good Pierre can truly be.
Steelers still have Asante Samuel Jr. to add to the mix
Pittsburgh signed Asante Samuel Jr. last week, and he should be activated to the game-day roster in the near future. He was still getting used to the new defensive system and playing football again, so he was not activated for Cincinnati. Pittsburgh's secondary was initially struggling to begin the year, but now that unit seems to be pretty special.
The great plays have not come from where they were expected to, but it is great to see guys like Dugger and Pierre step up in the absence of others.
