As the Russell Wilson era begins in Pittsburgh, the sun sets on the Mason Rudolph era.
Maybe calling Mason’s time “era” is a bit of a stretch, but with the Pittsburgh Steelers signing Wilson to a one-year deal, it almost certainly ends Rudolph’s time with the team.
Rudolph is an unrestricted free agent, and with the chances of him gaining any real traction for a job here dwindling, it would be wise for him to seek a contract elsewhere this offseason.
Kenny Pickett will assume the backup job — probably — behind Wilson, and the Steelers could draft a late round guy to be the third string option, or use free agency to fill that void.
In either event, Mason Rudolph won’t be a Steeler in 2024. But while his tenure here in Pittsburgh overall wasn’t memorable, it cannot be understated what he did down the stretch to help this team.
He saved the season.
After being afterthought all season long for the Steelers, Mike Tomlin turned to him out of pure desperation. Mason was given the chance to start for the first time in two years, as the Steelers pretty openly gave off the impression “well, it can’t get any worse.”
And despite all the negativity surrounding his entire NFL career to that point, Mason shut out the noise and delivered one of the best Steelers games in recent years, when he and the team beat the Cincinnati Bengals 34-11. Mason Magcic had started from the very first pass:
Despite Pickett now being healthy by the time the Steelers faced the Seahawks in Seattle, Rudolph had done more than enough to earn a second start.
And he delivered once again. On the road, he led the Steelers to a win to keep the postseason dream alive. Who could forget this throw to George Pickens, by the way?
Stepping up in a collapsing pocket and rifling a deep pass. Oh god it was so glorious.
Still holding the keys to the Steelers’ car, Rudolph led them to a slog-fest win in Baltimore, and with some help from the Tennessee Titans, the Steelers made the playoffs.
There was nothing too fancy about this game, but Rudolph did have a defining moment when he fit this pass into a tight window for Diontae Johnson.
Mason Rudolph saved the season. Without him, the playoffs certainly do not happen. And a winning season probably doesn’t happen either.
He may not be a Hall of Famer, but his run with Pittsburgh down the stretch showed he is certainly better than the third stringer that the Steelers had banished him to for almost two years.
He made watching Steelers football fun for really the first time in 2023. The offense had a real threat to them. They were actually worth watching.
I don’t know how viable Rudolph’s career is, and the short sample size he had with the Steelers last year is probably why they opted to sign Russell Wilson when they could.
Moving on is probably the best choice for both sides. Rudolph was not be granted a real chance to beat out Wilson or Pickett in training camp, and the Steelers would probably like to give out that third slot to someone younger.
I don’t know where Rudolph ends up, but I am rooting for him. What he did in 2023 was absolutely amazing, and gave Steelers fans the best quarterback play they’ve seen since Ben Roethlisberger.
So long, sweet price. I wish you well.
Fifth Avenue Sports 
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