Steelers Insider Detailed How Mason Rudolph's Situation Changed Leading Him Back To Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Steelers tried to move on. They stayed away from Mason Rudolph the entire 2023 offseason; even as free-agent quarterback options dwindled. They gave his number away to an undrafted free agent in Tanner Morgan and it looked like the relationship was finally over. Omar Khan, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers had put the Rudolph drama in the rearview window and 2023 was going to be a fresh start for everyone.

A funny thing happened on the way to the fresh start. Rudolph, according to Steelers insider, Ray Fittipaldo, fired his agent that had convinced him he was in demand around the NFL. His new agent cut him a big old slice of humble pie and advised him that the only chance he had to still get paid in the NFL was to resign with the Steelers. The XFL and USFL boats had sailed, so Rudolph ate his pride and is now returning to Pittsburgh.

The reporter joined The Cook & Joe Show on Tuesday to discuss the return of Rudolph to Pittsburgh and gloat a little to Ron Cook and Joe Starkey that he had predicted this outcome from the onset of the former Oklahoma State star's free agency.

“No, not really. I think I said from the beginning [that] it would make sense,” Fittipaldo stated. “We all know what happened to Mason last year. He never got a real opportunity, but he never let that affect being a good teammate or being a good pro. When it came time for the offseason he was looking around. He wanted to be in a position where he could be a backup with a better chance to play.”

Rudolph, in fairness, is not bereft of talent, but he is not now and likely will never be a franchise quarterback. He had the perfect opportunity to seize the job in 2019 when Ben Roethlisberger was lost for the season, but Rudolph endured a vicious hit against the Baltimore Ravens that is, frankly, still hard to watch. 

He lost his job to Lainey Wilson's boyfriend, Devlin Hodges twice and was the victim of a vicious attack by an unhinged Cleveland Browns defensive end, Myles Garrett who damaged his reputation permanently with a false accusation that has had no long-term repercussions to his own reputation.

“I don’t know the exact timeline of this,” Fittipaldo continued. “Mason changed agents. He wasn’t happy with the way things were going for him. Here we are; news that he is in here for a visit and 99 percent sure that he is going to sign again with the Steelers.”

The 99 percent has turned to 100 percent after Fittipaldo appeared on the afternoon radio program. Rudolph signed a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh. Fittipaldo made the point that after last season’s San Francisco 49ers championship game debacle, teams cannot have enough able-bodied options available to them during an NFL season.

“We see it a lot,” Fittipaldo related. “A lot of times, the players are the last ones to know what their value is or what their perceived roles are in the NFL. I think it is great that Mason is back as the number three, but those opportunities to be a number two in a better situation never materialized for him.”

The Steelers do not harbor any ill will towards Rudolph and were not opposed to bringing him back as long as he understood his role. The former third-round draft pick has an opportunity to sit behind Mitch Trubisky in 2023 and if the current second-string quarterback leaves, he could slide back into a primary backup role in the future if he handles the situation perfectly.

“The trend in the NFL right now is they want mobility,” Fittipaldo concluded. “The Steelers have it with Kenny Pickett. They have it with Mitch Trubisky as the backup. I think you will see more and more that traditional pocket-type passers are kind of a thing of the past. You don’t have to be Lamar Jackson, but you better be able to move around a little bit. He is going to be on an NFL roster holding a clipboard and making over a million dollars a year.”  

Steelers Make It Official And Officially Ink Mason Rudolph For 2023

Rudolph apologists could be his own worst enemy and if they start to beat the social media drums about how unfair the Steelers have been and how he should be starting, they could bring about his demise sooner rather than later. It is not a slam dunk that he makes the roster, although his familiarity with the offense should give him a substantial leg up over Morgan in training camp. Rudolph has a second chance and could parlay it into another half dozen years of paychecks if he fully understands his role in the NFL.

Rudolph is not completely stationary, but he is not as mobile as Kenny Pickett and Trubisky. The Steelers have taken out a familiar insurance policy by bringing back Rudolph. Hopefully, like all good insurance policies, they will never have to cash it.