Quarterback Mason Rudolph became the first Pittsburgh Steelers player on an expiring contract to sign with another team in free agency when he agreed to a one-year deal Wednesday with the Tennessee Titans.
NFL Network reported the deal for Rudolph is worth up to $3.62 million.
Rudolph, 28, spent six seasons with the Steelers, who were interested in bringing him back until they signed nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson in free agency.
Rudolph rose from third to first on the depth chart in 2023, finishing the season as the starter in place of an injured Kenny Pickett and benched backup Mitch Trubisky. He went 3-0 as a starter and helped lead the Steelers to the AFC playoffs. He also was the quarterback for the team’s AFC wild-card round loss at Buffalo.
Rudolph completed 74% of his passes with three touchdowns and no interceptions in his brief run as a starter last season.
Rudolph went 8-4-1 in 13 career starts with the Steelers. He appeared in 21 games with the team.
The Titans have second-year quarterback Will Levis penciled in as the starter. The other quarterback on Tennessee’s roster is Malik Willis.
The Steelers previously watched former players Mitch Trubisky and Chuks Okorafor sign elsewhere before the start of free agency because they were granted their release earlier in the offseason.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.