Four days into free agency, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally have a new quarterback.
Well, a quarterback who is not-so-new to the organization.
Mason Rudolph and the Steelers agreed to terms Thursday, according to a report from the NFL Network. Rudolph, who spent his first six seasons with the Steelers before departing as a free agent last spring, agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract.
Rudolph, who turns 30 in July, has made 19 NFL starts — 14 with the Steelers, including a wild-card round playoff loss in Buffalo just 14 months ago. A third-round pick of the Steelers in 2018, Rudolph made at least one start for the team during the 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2023 seasons.
His late-season run in 2023 was arguably the best stretch of quarterback play the Steelers have gotten since Ben Roethlisberger retired. After Kenny Pickett suffered an injury and Mitch Trubisky proved ineffective, Rudolph led the Steelers on a three-game winning streak in which he completed 74% of his passes with three touchdowns and no interceptions while averaging 9.7 yards per attempt and a 118.0 passer rating. The Steelers desperately needed all three victories in order to make the playoffs.
But the Steelers let Rudolph walk in free agency last spring, instead signing Russell Wilson and trading for Justin Fields in addition to trading Pickett and releasing Trubisky. Rudolph signed on as a backup with the Tennessee Titans, who had the NFL’s worst record last season (3-14).
Rudolph went 1-4 as a starter, completing 64% of his passes with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Rudolph was honored with the Sammy Baugh and Johnny Unitas awards as the nation’s best college quarterback in 2017. His most sustained action as a pro starter came when in 2019 Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending elbow injury in Week 2. Though Rudolph would miss time because of a concussion and shoulder injuries, he won five of eight starts and completed 62.2% of his passes with 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
The Steelers let Fields leave via free agency and appear lukewarm on bringing Wilson back. They have been linked to 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers, who is apparently mulling an offer from the New York Giants or even retirement.
Selecting a quarterback in the draft remains a possibility, as do some other less-heralded options still available in free agency. Skylar Thompson was also an addition to the roster at quarterback in January.