LATROBE, PA (93.7 The Fan) – Mason Rudolph said one of his friends told him the other day he needed to relax with his praise of Aaron Rodgers, saying his eyes were glazing over when discussing him.
At one point earlier this year there was talk of Rudolph potentially being the Steelers starter again, but it ended when Rodgers signed a one-year contract. Like he was previously, Rudolph has been a model teammate and said Rodgers is as well.
“He has a great social awareness,” Rudolph said. “He’s not trying to dominate the meeting or step on the coach’s toes. When he’s got a nugget of wisdom he is going to speak up in a respectful way and communicate that with the room. That often breeds a lot of conversations and a lot of learning. That’s been a great resource I’ve been able to have.”
Rudolph said the two have conversations about not just football, but non-football as he put it.
“Trying to pick up anything I can from him, he’s forgotten more football than most of us will ever know,” Rudolph said. “It’s a great resource.”
Rudolph was the first-team quarterback on Saturday with Rodgers and several other starters given the day off following the Friday Night Lights practice. The 30-year-old said he tried to make the most of the reps and said the offense moved and took care of the ball with good energy.
He said it feels like home being back for a training camp at St. Vincent College. Rudolph said he’s spent a lot of summers here and is comfortable, not only with the environment, but he said good friends on the team and a coaching staff he knows.
“Absolutely I’m more at ease,” Rudolph said. “Very grateful to be back here. You never know when it might be your last year.”
He thought back to his 2023 season with the Steelers when he was contemplating his career and if it was in football. Third string on the depth chart, a lot had to happen for him to get on the field. Sure enough, a lot did happen and Rudolph went 3-0 to get the team back in the playoffs and then gave the Steelers the best chance to win a playoff game in a while in Buffalo after a major snowstorm.
Starting five games and playing in eight with Tennessee last year, Rudolph said he’s watched all 18 Steelers matchups in 2024 on tape to prepare. He’s studied the Arthur Smith offense, but knows no matter how excited he is to be back, his role is behind Rodgers.
To that end he is looking for any rep he can get with the starters, which hadn’t been really any until Saturday. Aside from that he said he is doubling down on the mental reps, walk-through reps and ‘stealing any throws you can get after practice’
“That’s a way to be ready when you are called upon as an NFL back-up quarterback,” Rudolph said. “Make sure you are sharp and you are not coasting through the year because you never know when your opportunity is going to come.”
Rudolph said he’s excited to play with this roster which includes GM Omar Khan trading for receiver DK Metcalf and tight end Jonnu Smith along with adding Kenneth Gainwell and Kaleb Johnson in the backfield.
“I’m still incredibly passionate about this game,” Rudolph said. “I love this game. It’s a blessing. It’s so fun to play this position and I’m so grateful to be able to do it.”