Former Cowboys Quarterback Gets Support From Steelers Teammates to Become Starter
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the middle of a quarterback debacle, something the Oklahoma State Cowboys are all too familiar with from the 2023 college football season.
In the middle of the Steelers' options under center is former Oklahoma State standout quarterback Mason Rudolph. Late in the season, Rudolph replaced Mitch Trubisky as the starter, though he was only replacing an injured Kenny Pickett.
Right away, Rudolph looked smooth in the offense. He was efficient in moving the ball down the field, and the offense had looked the best it did all season. The former Cowboys quarterback impressed enough to the point that Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin opted to have Rudolph start in the playoffs, despite Pickett being healthy.
Last Saturday, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that one of Rudolph or Pickett will start the season under center for the Steelers, rather than the team finding a new quarterback through the draft or free agency.
Rudolph was drafted by the team in 2018 as a fourth-round pick after an impressive four-year career with Oklahoma State. Pickett, a former Pitt quarterback, was a first-round pick. For Rudolph to be in an active quarterback competition to become the starter after all these years as a backup is quite impressive and a sign of his perseverance.
In his report, Dulac mentioned that other Steelers players on the roster were making it known they want Rudolph to be the starting quarterback.
“[Rudolph's] teammates like him, several have politicked for him, and another indicated there is enough of a question as to who should be the starter that the coaching staff needs to figure it out in a hurry,” Dulac reported.
Dulac reported no players' names, but Diontae Johnson was outward about his feelings about who should start for the team next season.
“I’ve been knowing how Mason plays since my rookie year, so it wasn’t nothing I wasn’t expecting for him not to do. I kind of had high hopes of him doing what he’s been doing when he became the starter,” Johnson said. “Hopefully, he gets the job next year and (does) what he’s got to do, but he did a great job, in my opinion.”
The Steelers are likely to return Rudolph and allow him to compete for the job, and he's taking momentum from the last football season into the next training camp. Again, after all these years of him being a backup, it's nice to see him get a chance to potentially shine in a starting role.
READ MORE: OSU Football Superstar Ollie Gordon Talks Transfer Portal
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