What Happened to Mason Rudolph?
Mason Rudolph is an American professional football quarterback who has played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans. After a successful college career at Oklahoma State, he was drafted by the Steelers in 2018, serving primarily as a backup before a strong finish to the 2023 season. He spent the 2024 season with the Tennessee Titans before rejoining the Steelers in 2025, where his future remains uncertain as of April 2026 amidst quarterback competition and draft speculation.
Quick Answer
As of April 25, 2026, Mason Rudolph is a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, under contract through the 2026 season. His role with the team is currently in flux, as he is splitting reps with Will Howard in the offseason program while the team awaits a decision from Aaron Rodgers regarding his return and recently drafted quarterback Drew Allar. There is significant speculation that Rudolph could be traded before or during the 2026 NFL season.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Wins Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Mason Rudolph concludes his college career at Oklahoma State by winning the prestigious Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
Drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers select Mason Rudolph in the third round (76th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft.
NFL Debut
Rudolph makes his NFL debut in Week 2 of the 2019 season against the Seattle Seahawks.
First NFL Start
He makes his first NFL start in Week 3 of the 2019 season against the San Francisco 49ers.
Named Steelers Starter, Leads Playoff Push
Rudolph takes over as the starting quarterback for the Steelers' final three regular-season games, leading them to three consecutive wins and a playoff berth.
Starts Playoff Game vs. Bills
Rudolph starts the Steelers' Wild Card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, completing 22 of 39 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns in a loss.
Signs with Tennessee Titans
Rudolph signs a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans for up to $3.62 million, seeking a fresh start after leaving Pittsburgh.
First Titans Start
Rudolph makes his first start for the Titans in Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills, completing 25 of 40 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown.
Re-signs with Pittsburgh Steelers
Rudolph returns to the Pittsburgh Steelers, signing a two-year, $8 million contract.
Relieves Injured Rodgers, Leads Win
Rudolph enters the Week 11 game against the Bengals after Aaron Rodgers suffers a wrist injury, completing 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown in a 34-12 victory.
2025 Season Concludes
Rudolph finishes the 2025 regular season having played in 5 games (1 start), with 310 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions.
Splitting Reps in Offseason Program
Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy states that Mason Rudolph and Will Howard are splitting reps in the team's offseason program, amidst uncertainty around Aaron Rodgers and the upcoming draft.
Steelers Draft Drew Allar, Trade Speculation Intensifies
With the Steelers drafting quarterback Drew Allar in the 2026 NFL Draft, speculation intensifies regarding Mason Rudolph's future, with reports indicating the team is open to trading him.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Mason Rudolph's NFL journey began when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round (76th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft after a standout college career at Oklahoma State, where he won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. For much of his initial stint with the Steelers from 2018 to 2023, Rudolph primarily served as a backup quarterback, making occasional starts. A significant turning point came at the end of the 2023 season when he was named the starter and led the Steelers to three consecutive wins, securing a playoff berth. In those games, he completed nearly 75% of his passes for 716 yards and three touchdowns.
Despite his strong performance at the close of the 2023 season, Rudolph did not re-sign with the Steelers immediately. He instead signed a one-year deal worth up to $3.62 million with the Tennessee Titans on March 13, 2024. During his single season with the Titans in 2024, Rudolph played in eight regular-season games, starting five. He recorded 1,530 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions. His time in Tennessee provided him with a fresh perspective, though he later admitted he didn't expect to return to Pittsburgh so soon.
Rudolph's return to Pittsburgh occurred on March 13, 2025, when he re-signed with the Steelers on a two-year, $8 million deal. In the 2025 season, he served as the backup to Aaron Rodgers. He appeared in five regular-season games, making one start, and completed 38 of 52 passes for 310 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He notably relieved an injured Rodgers in Week 11 against the Bengals, leading the team to a victory.
As of April 25, 2026, Rudolph remains under contract with the Steelers for the 2026 season. However, his position on the depth chart is highly uncertain. The Steelers are awaiting a decision from Aaron Rodgers regarding his return for the 2026 season. Furthermore, the team drafted quarterback Drew Allar in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, and Will Howard, a 2025 sixth-round pick, is also competing for a spot. Rudolph is currently splitting reps with Howard in the offseason program. Analysts widely speculate that Rudolph could be traded, as the Steelers may not have room for four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, and trading him would save the team $3 million in cap space.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Mason Rudolph made different choices?