Mason Rudolph ready for 'real possibility' of being Steelers starting QB in 2022

It will be a different dynamic inside the locker room this spring when Mason Rudolph returns for his fifth season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He no longer will have the presence — and abilities — of the franchise’s most prolific quarterback impeding his chance at earning a starting job.

“It’s knowing I can be a bit more myself and be the leader I’ve always been at the quarterback position,” Rudolph said Wednesday, “and not worried about stepping on the toes of a longtime Hall of Fame player. All of those things excite me.”

It was hard for Rudolph to be excited, at least about the prospects of playing time, as long as Ben Roethlisberger remained under contract. But with Roethlisberger planning to retire in the offseason and Rudolph returning for the second year of a deal he signed last offseason, he’ll get a chance to be the heir apparent.

Coach Mike Tomlin said at his season wrap-up news conference that Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins will compete for the starting job and that another quarterback from the NFL Draft or free agency could factor into the mix.

“All I want is the chance to compete and be the guy here,” Rudolph said. “It seems like that’s more of a real possibility now than ever. The last four years knowing that as long as Ben is healthy, you’re not playing.”

Rudolph made just one start in 2021 when Roethlisberger was out after a positive covid test. He completed 30 of 50 passes for 242 yards in a 16-16 tie against Detroit. His only other action came with the Steelers trailing by 26 points at Kansas City in December.

Rudolph’s only extended stretch of playing time came in 2019 when Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending elbow injury in the second game of the season.

He made eight starts that year, winning five, but he also lost his job to “Duck” Hodges at one point.

Rudolph dealt with a concussion, accusations of racism from Myles Garrett after being hit on the head with his own helmet and his own season-ending shoulder injury after he had reclaimed the job.

“It’s the most adversity I’ve had in a season in my life, and it happened in the span of 10 weeks,” Rudolph said. “I think I’m a better man because of what happened that year. I’m hardened. My skin has been thickened. I’ve been through a lot. I know I came out the other end better prepared and ready for whatever football throws at me.

“I’ve got a ‘screw-it’ mentality. I’ve finally got a chance to play that game I love. I’m going to empty the tank and have no regrets.”

As long as Roethlisberger was around, with the two Super Bowl rings on his resume, Rudolph was going to ascend no higher than second fiddle. Next year, the only No. 2 he is prepared to experience will be his uniform number.

“It’s all I ever want,” Rudolph said. “All I’ve ever wanted to be is a starting NFL quarterback. I think I can do it. I think I have what it takes. I’m ready to get the opportunity to prove myself. I’ve admitted I understand what I put on tape in ’19 and until this point, there are still question marks about my game. I want to prove those people wrong.”

Haskins, though, wants to prove it, too, after essentially taking a redshirt year with the Steelers after two seasons in which he started a combined 13 games for Washington. Haskins signed with the Steelers a year ago knowing that, like Rudolph, he would have to wait a year before getting a legitimate chance to gain playing time with the Steelers.

“I feel like I can be a starter in this league,” Haskins said. “I was drafted (in the first round) for that reason. I definitely believe I have the talent to (start). I think I can throw with the best of them. I just haven’t put it together yet.”

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Neither has Rudolph, who previously trained with Haskins before they had a chance to share the same practice field.

“Mason is a different guy,” Haskins said. “I love Mason. He has a great chance to be the guy here, too. … I’ve always had respect for him. Being able to compete with each other in practice, I think we bring out the best in each other.”

Rudolph will enter offseason workouts with the edge in experience in the Steelers system. But he cautions he’s no longer the same quarterback that struggled at times in 2019 when he was tasked with temporarily replacing Roethlisberger.

“I’ve watched those games out of sheer boredom,” he said. “I want to dissect myself and ask questions about where have I come since those starts and how have I improved. There are things that make me laugh, mistakes I made that I know I wouldn’t make today. There are improvements I’ve made, physically, my body style.

“But until you get more opportunity to prove yourself, there will be question marks. I’m excited to have the opportunity to play next year.”