Mason Rudolph spent his first full season away from the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, signing a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans.
That one year away from the Steelers made Rudolph realize what he had in Pittsburgh that much more upon re-signing with the team for a two-year, $8 million.
“I think it was just good for perspective,” Rudolph said on the ‘Kaboly and Mack’ Podcast. “I think it makes me appreciate Pittsburgh, and the way we do things here. And the way the front office operates, the ownership, from the top down, getting an outside, fresh perspective makes you appreciate what we have in Pittsburgh so much more.”
Rudolph went 1-4 in his starts in 2024, throwing nine touchdowns and nine intercpetions while amassing 1530 over the year.
Rudolph’s time with the Steelers was up and down, and he never got an extended chance until 2023 following a rough 2019 in his second season. The NFL is a business, and oftentimes, the depth chart can be predicted by financial compensation. Rudolph has been hardened by the business s as a result, but would not change anything.
“I look back at 2022 and a large portion of 2023, am I competitive, and would I have liked to play more those two years and start more games, absolutely,” Rudolph said. “Being the No. 3 for most of 2022 and barely getting any reps and having to stay in it mentally, that’s the best adversity you can ask for. I have no regrets about how things went down.”
Rudolph’s breakout three games came at the end of the 2023 season, where he led the Steelers from 7-7 to 10-7 and a playoff berth, where they would lose to the Buffalo Bills.
The Steelers drafted Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He stayed with the team through the 2023 season after a second lease on his NFL life.