Rudolph talks battle to make Steelers roster

LATROBE (93.7 The Fan) – Mason Rudolph is no stranger to Steelers training camp competitions dating back to his rookie season in 2018. Once again fighting for a roster spot, Rudolph said he learned a couple of years ago about how to better handle it.

“There was a time in 2023 when I came back and Mitch (Trubisky) and Kenny (Pickett) were getting just about every rep,” Rudolph recalled in the media room at the Rogers Center at St. Vincent College Monday. “I think I took one pass in the Spring of ‘23. I was frustrated, I was down, I was like ‘golly, I know I’m better than just getting one rep’.”

“I had to change my mentality that year and say Lord, I’m just going to take every rep I get and make the most of it and don’t complain about not getting the reps. That year it worked out for me. I extended my career and played some of my best ball.”

Rudolph would quarterback wins in the last three games of that season getting the Steelers in the playoffs. This year, at least before the team came to Latrobe, was another where he didn’t get much. This time he understood and approached it differently.

“Just making the most of each rep you get,” Rudolph said. “I didn’t get a lot of reps in the Spring, I think that was intentional to really give Will (Howard) and Drew (Allar) plenty of work. Obviously Will not getting any preseason work last year, they wanted to give those guys plenty of reps.”

Rudolph was praised by head coach Mike McCarthy a couple of days ago as the player he first thought of when asked who looked different in person than what he expected. McCarthy said he didn’t realize Rudolph could throw the ball like that.

Now 31, Rudolph said it’s been a good fit for him in the McCarthy offense. He’s another year older and made some mechanical changes, mostly to his footwork. He’s switched from his right foot being forward when he starts to his left. It seems just the willingness to make the change impressed his head coach and other assistants.

This year the team also has run split reps during training camp, where two quarterbacks will work together so the other two can get as many individual and team periods as possible.

“I’ve tried to pick up the new offense, the new cadence, new footwork and I think it’s been a good transition,” Rudolph said.

He points to Sam Darold as a player who stuck through tough times to now be a Super Bowl champion. Sticking with it and controlling what he can control has been a mantra he’s used in his professional and personal life.

Rudolph also credits his time with Aaron Rodgers. He said the future Hall of Famer is so open with his tips and easy to talk to and makes it easy to ask him questions. They have a relationship far better than the other future Hall of Famer he worked with in Latrobe.

He also has jokes, Rodgers is one of the more notorious pranksters.

“He put some bumper stickers on some guys cars without knowledge—hilarious stuff,” Rudolph said declining to go into detail what the meaning was displayed on the sticker. He did get him back, slapping a stick on Rodgers’ car but said his security saw it and was able to remove it before it baked onto the back.

Mason said we need to ask Rodgers about the piece of art Rudolph gave him for Christmas.

All pranks and joking aside, Rudolph is facing another challenge to make the roster. But this time, he seems comfortable he’s done what he’s needed to show his value.