Pittsburgh, March 11, 2025 – With the quarterback free agency market shrinking and top-tier options slipping away, the Pittsburgh Steelers appear to be turning to a familiar face: bringing back former QB Mason Rudolph to Acrisure Stadium. Yet, this potential move has Steelers fans in a frenzy, feeling like the team dodged the “watermelon rind” of Aaron Rodgers only to stumble into the “coconut shell” of another complicated choice.
Mason Rudolph, now 29, spent six seasons with the Steelers from 2018 to 2023 before signing a one-year, $3.6 million deal with the Tennessee Titans in 2024. In Tennessee, he appeared in eight games (five starts), throwing for 1,530 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions. While never a dazzling star, Rudolph left a lasting mark in Pittsburgh late in the 2023 season, leading the team to three straight wins to clinch a playoff spot with 719 yards and three TDs without a single interception. Now a free agent after his Titans stint, he’s reportedly on the Steelers’ radar for a reunion.
This shift comes as the Steelers grapple with a quarterback crisis following a tumultuous 2024 season. Justin Fields, once seen as the franchise’s future, is nearing the end of his contract and drawing interest from rival teams. Russell Wilson, the splashy 2024 signing, underwhelmed and is likely on his way out. Meanwhile, a bid to land Aaron Rodgers—the polarizing legend from the New York Jets—fell apart as reports suggest he’s in talks with another AFC squad. With few viable options left, the Steelers seem cornered into revisiting their old standby, Mason Rudolph.
The reaction from Steelers Nation on social media platforms like X has been a mixed bag. Some fans welcome Rudolph’s return as a safe, familiar fix. One user posted, “Mason knows our system—no drama like Rodgers. I’m in!” But the majority are up in arms, slamming the move as a classic case of “dodging one rind for another shell.” A frustrated fan wrote, “From an aging Rodgers to a mediocre Rudolph—the Steelers are digging their own grave. We deserve better!”
Analysts suggest this pivot reflects GM Omar Khan’s cautious approach, avoiding a risky splash on an expensive or unproven QB in Mike Tomlin’s system. Rudolph, while far from ideal, offers baseline stability—something the Steelers need to lean on their stout defense and a just-good-enough offense to compete in the brutal AFC North.
No official announcement has come from the Steelers yet, but league sources indicate the team has reached out to Rudolph’s representatives to discuss a short-term deal, potentially in the range of three years and $18 million. Whether Rudolph’s return can restore faith among the fanbase or merely proves to be another “coconut shell” dragging the team down remains to be seen. The answer should crystallize as free agency officially opens tomorrow, March 12, 2025.
