Pro Football Rumors
For 18 years, the Steelers enjoyed stability at the quarterback spot with Ben Roethlisberger in place. The Super Bowl winner’s retirement after the 2021 campaign came as no surprise at the time, but it left the team in need of a long-term successor.
That still represents a notable vacancy beyond 2025 given Aaron Rodgers’ age. The 41-year-old expectedly took a one-year deal to head to Pittsburgh, and he will aim to provide the team with a high floor under center compared to his predecessors. As of next offseason, though, another effort will need to be made to find a signal-caller capable of holding down the starter’s role over an extended period and competing with the AFC’s top offenses.
Prior to the Rodgers signing, the Steelers took a number of paths in their attempts to find a genuine Roethlisberger successor. An examination of the quarterbacks who have been used since 2022 and their success (or, to an extent, lack thereof) in Pittsburgh helps explain the team’s willingness to bring in Rodgers under unusual circumstances.
After not seeing the field as a rookie, Rudolph took part in a sustained run of action in place of an injured Roethlisberger in 2019. The Oklahoma State product won five of his eight starts, but he put up pedestrian numbers along the way. Backup duties were again his purview through the next three years.
Playing on a pair of short-term deals, Rudolph became a familiar face on offense during his time in Pittsburgh. He only managed 13 starts across his first stint with the franchise, however, and the team’s moves following Roethlisberger’s retirement have illustrated the extent to which Rudolph is not viewed as a long-term QB1 option. The 29-year-old departed in free agency last spring.
Taking a one-year deal with the Titans, Rudolph found himself in and out of the lineup in 2024. Will Levis struggled to develop as the team hoped, and poor play along with injuries opened the door for Rudolph to see time atop the depth chart. The latter posted a new career high in passing yards per game (191) but he threw as many interceptions (nine) as touchdowns.
With Tennessee looking to find a new franchise passer via the No. 1 pick in April’s draft, Rudolph found himself on the move again. His return to Pittsburgh came with a warning of sorts from the team regarding the pursuit of a more established starter for 2025. A long wait ensued with the Rodgers deal taking until just before minicamp, but through the spring Rudolph sat atop the depth chart. Head coach Mike Tomlin publicly endorsed him as a starting option, but any first-team action in 2025 will come as an injury replacement.
Under contract for the next two years, Rudolph’s second Steelers stint will cover not only the Rodgers experiment but also the early development of sixth-round rookie Will Howard. He will operate as a familiar face (albeit not for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith) if and...
