Steelers' Mason Rudolph Detailed 'Awesome' Moment With Aaron Rodgers

The Pittsburgh Steelers brought back Mason Rudolph after letting him walk a season prior. Rudolph had stepped up in a major way to save the 2023 season, winning three straight games and helping the Steelers reach the postseason. After that impressive run, he signed with the Tennessee Titans for 2024. However now, in a surprising move, he has returned to Pittsburgh for the 2025 season, once again stepping into a quarterback situation full of uncertainty.

When Rudolph recently spoke with Steelers insider Mark Kaboly, he revealed a powerful moment from his rookie year that left a lasting impact. After a 2018 preseason game, Rodgers pulled him aside and offered a few encouraging words. That brief interaction stuck with Rudolph and helped shape how he carried himself as a young quarterback. Now, the possibility of sharing a quarterback room with Rodgers brings that memory full circle.

"I had a rough, early outing, and he came over and said hello and offered some words of encouragement and motivated me to keep working hard," Rudolph said. "It doesn’t happen a lot. He went out of his way to say hello to me, and that was awesome."

Back in 2018, during his rookie season, Rudolph got a real taste of NFL action in a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. The Steelers lost that game 51 to 34 in a high-scoring matchup that didn’t mean anything in the standings, but gave young players like Rudolph valuable reps. 

His stat line wasn’t particularly strong, as he threw for just 47 yards with one touchdown and one interception. On the other side, Rodgers made a brief appearance, completing two of his four passes for 35 yards and a touchdown before heading to the bench. It was a typical preseason showing for Rodgers, but the night would stick with Rudolph for an entirely different reason.

After the game, as players from both teams met on the field, Rodgers took a moment to approach the rookie quarterback. Rudolph remembers Rodgers offering him a few encouraging words, a gesture that made a strong impression. It wasn’t a long conversation, and it wasn’t broadcast on television or reported widely at the time, but for Rudolph, it was significant. 

As a young player trying to earn respect and confidence, hearing positive feedback from someone of Rodgers’ stature was meaningful. That small moment helped reinforce his belief that he belonged in the league.

Steelers Still Waiting On Aaron Rodgers 

Now, years later, Rudolph and Rodgers could soon be part of the same quarterback room in Pittsburgh. Rudolph has returned to the Steelers for the 2025 season after a brief stop in Tennessee, and the team is waiting to see whether Rodgers will decide to sign with them. If Rodgers joins the team, he will take the starting job and Rudolph will serve as the backup. 

If not, the Steelers have made it clear they are comfortable moving forward with Rudolph under center. The possibility of these two quarterbacks working together after that brief encounter in 2018 adds an intriguing layer to the story and offers a unique full-circle moment in Rudolph’s career.

Now, Steelers fans will have to stay patient as the quarterback situation continues to unfold. Rudolph is back, joined by rookie Will Howard and veteran Skylar Thompson in the room. If Rodgers decides to join the team, it would drastically change the outlook for the 2025 season and shift expectations across the board. If he doesn't, all eyes will be on the competition between Rudolph and Howard. Given his experience and familiarity with the team, Rudolph would enter that battle with a clear advantage.