Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph has addressed his visit with President Donald Trump at a rally, which has led to immense backlash from the fanbase.
Donald Trump held a rally at West Mifflin, a borough 11 miles south of Pittsburgh, last Friday. Joining him on stage were Mason Rudolph, special teams captain Miles Killebrew and former fan favorite and running back Rocky Bleier. The latter presented Trump with a Steelers jersey with the No. 47, as Trump is the nation’s 47th president.
Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reached out to Rudolph for comment. The veteran signal-caller told Mackey that he received an invitation from a friend and was keen on the opportunity to visit a steel mill and meet steel workers:
“I’ve got a lifelong friend who works in D.C. and invited me. It was a pretty incredible opportunity to meet literally guys who make steel.
I had never been to a steel mill before. It was pretty impressive. Sounds like a great, new investment. It’s gonna help to create jobs and bolster the Pittsburgh economy. It was a fun experience.”
The Steelers received so many angry responses that they decided to send an email out to fans and season ticket holders with the following message:
“Our alumni and current players make their own individual decisions that reflect their views, and they do not necessarily represent the view of the entire Pittsburgh Steelers organization.”
The email, obtained by @TribLIVE
“Our alumni and current players make their own individual decisions that reflect their views, and they do not necessarily represent the view of the entire Pittsburgh Steelers organization.” https://t.co/0UTPJDPXFh
— Andrew Stockey (@astockeyWTAE) June 3, 2025
Trump is one of the most polarizing political figures in American history. Whether they show support or not, people with Rudolph’s platform are bound to gain some fans when they show up to visit President Trump. That’s the nature of politics.
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Gardner Minshew II and kicker Harrison Butker are among the active NFL players who have publicly endorsed Trump.
Rudolph was primarily the Steelers’ backup quarterback from 2018 to 2023 before joining the Tennessee Titans last year. Rudolph went 3-0 as the Steelers’ starting QB late in 2023 and led them to a surprise playoff appearance, though they were crushed by the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round.
If Aaron Rodgers retires, Rudolph will presumably open the 2025 season as the QB1 in Pittsburgh.
Also Read: Pittsburgh Steelers Respond To Fan Backlash About Donald Trump Rally