The relationship between former Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Mason Rudolph has been a topic for years in sports talk.
Many fans believe Tomlin disrespected Rudolph but never really giving him a chance to prove himself.
When Rudolph saved the Steelers season in 2023, some saw Tomlin not giving him the QB1 spot on the depth chart a slight.
But, whatever the perceived rivalry or anger between the two appears to be media manufactured.
Rudolph took to social media to honor the former coach.
“William & Mary’s finest,” wrote the Steelers QB. “Nineteen seasons, 200 wins, two Super Bowl appearances and a Lombardi trophy at age 36. A gold jacket career by any measure.”
After the 2023 season, Rudolph left for one year with Tennessee before returning to Pittsburgh last year.
The perception after Rudolph left was he had enough of being passed over in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers had Rudolph under contract and went out and signed Mitch Trubisky and drafted Kenny Pickett to start the post-Ben Roethlisberger era.
After the game infamous game between the Steelers and Browns, when Myles Garrett swung Rudolph’s own helmet at his head and alleged the QB used a racial slur toward him, Tomlin defended Rudolph vehemently on national television.
It may have been time for Mike Tomlin and the Steelers to part way, but the overwhelming majority of his players love the man and the coach that he was, even a quarterback that the public perceived as slighted.