Steelers Now
Despite being in competition for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback spot, veteran Mason Rudolph has been an open book for rookie Will Howard. He’s not giving the former Ohio State signal-caller the same treatment that he received from Ben Roethlisberger back in 2018.
Despite Rudolph’s claims in the past that Roethlisberger did not help him, the future Hall of Fame quarterback insists that he never had anything against Rudolph.
“When they drafted Mason, I made comments about, and I don’t even remember my comments,” Roethlisberger said on his most recent Footbahlin podcast episode. “But it was like, why did we draft Mason? It wasn’t a shot at Mason. I didn’t have a problem with Mason. They could have drafted Patrick Mahomes, whoever. It wasn’t a shot at the person. It was how are we making our team better by drafting a guy in the [third round].”
“I would’ve said the same thing if they would’ve went, we had Maurkice Pouncey, if they would’ve went and drafted a center. What are we doing? Go find a need in the third round.’”
Roethlisberger famously was not happy after the Steelers selected Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He thought it was a wasted pick, as it did not help the team immediately. Roethlisberger and Rudolph also were never close. To say the least, it was a strained relationship.
Below are Roethlisberger’s exact comments from his interview on 93.7 The Fan in 2018.
“I was surprised when they took a quarterback because I thought that maybe in the third round, you know you can get some really good football players that can help this team now,” Roethlisberger said. “Nothing against Mason; I think he’s a great football player. I don’t know him personally, but I’m sure he’s a great kid. I just don’t know how backing up or being a third [string] — well, who knows where he’s going to fall on the depth chart — helps us win now.
“But, you know, that’s not my decision to make. That’s on the coaches and the GM and the owner and those kind of things. If they think he can help our team, so be it, but I was a little surprised.”
Roethlisberger also was blunt when asked about mentoring Rudolph.
“I don’t think I’ll need to, now that he said he doesn’t need me. If he asks me a question, I might just have to point to the playbook,” Roethlisberger said with a laugh.
Rudolph told the media on draft night that it’s not up to Roethlisberger to teach him anything, and that it’s his own job to learn.
Roethlisberger and Rudolph’s relationship got off to an awkward start and it never really got any better. Despite the two not being close, Roethlisberger wishes nothing but the best for Rudolph.
“I don’t have a problem with Mason. Are we boys? Are we friends? No. We don’t need to be though. But I’m rooting for him. I want him to...
