Mason Rudolph Bio
Brett Mason Rudolph III, known professionally as Mason Rudolph, is an American professional football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) and weighing 235 lb (107 kg), he is a tall, physically imposing pocket passer who has spent the majority of his career as a backup. He is best known for his productive college career at Oklahoma State, where he set school and conference passing records and won the prestigious Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in 2017. He was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft.
From 2018 to 2022, Rudolph primarily served as a backup in Pittsburgh, making occasional starts. After brief stops in between, he re-signed with the Steelers in 2023 and spent most of the season as the third-string quarterback before being named the starter late in the year. After a single season with the Tennessee Titans in 2024, he returned to Pittsburgh in 2025, where he continues to back up and occasionally start.
Early Life and Background
Mason Rudolph was born on July 17, 1995, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, to Brett and Jamie Rudolph. He was named after his father and grandfather and is not related to the former golfer of the same name. He grew up in the Rock Hill area, where he developed a strong interest in football from an early age, supported by a family that valued the sport.
Rudolph attended Westminster Catawba Christian School before transferring to Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina. During his high school career, he passed for 10,986 yards and 132 passing touchdowns. As a senior, he accounted for 80 total touchdowns and threw for 4,400 yards, leading the Northwestern Trojans to a 15–0 record, the 4A State Championship, and a #7 national ranking. He also played in the annual Shrine Bowl All-Star Game, where he was named offensive MVP after leading South Carolina on a game-winning drive in the final 20 seconds.
Rudolph was a finalist for South Carolina’s Mr. Football award and was rated by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit, ranked as the ninth-best pro-style quarterback in his class. He committed to Oklahoma State University to play college football, where he would develop into one of the most productive passers in program history.
Path to American Football
Rudolph’s path to professional football began with his standout play at Northwestern High School, where his arm talent and production drew national attention. Recruiters and analysts praised his size, arm strength, and accuracy, projecting him as a future college starter. His decision to attend Oklahoma State gave him the platform to compete at the highest level of college football.
At Oklahoma State, Rudolph entered his true freshman season in 2014 as a third-string quarterback behind J. W. Walsh and Daxx Garman. After Walsh was injured, Garman took over, with Rudolph serving as his backup. Following Garman’s injury, Rudolph started his first career game against the Baylor Bears, completing 13 of 25 passes for 281 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He remained the starter for the final two games, including the 2015 Cactus Bowl victory against the Washington Huskies.
Rudolph was named the starting quarterback for the 2015 season, a role he held for the remainder of his tenure at Oklahoma State. He developed into a prolific passer, finishing his college career with 41 starts, 13,618 passing yards, 92 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions, along with 28 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns. In 2017, he led the NCAA with 4,904 passing yards and earned multiple postseason honors.
Mason Rudolph Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Rudolph in the third round, 76th overall, of the 2018 NFL draft, trading up with the Seattle Seahawks to make the pick. He signed a four-year, $3.92 million contract with a signing bonus of $932,264. Throughout his rookie training camp, he competed with Landry Jones and Joshua Dobbs for the backup role behind Ben Roethlisberger. Head coach Mike Tomlin ultimately named him the third quarterback, and he did not take a single snap as a rookie.
Rudolph made his NFL debut in 2019 during Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, relieving an injured Roethlisberger in the second half of a 28–26 loss and finishing with 112 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Following Roethlisberger’s season-ending elbow injury, Rudolph became the Steelers’ starting quarterback. He started the next game against the San Francisco 49ers and threw for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in a 24–20 loss. The following week against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football, he completed 24 of 28 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns in a 27–3 victory.
NFL Breakthrough (2019)
During a Week 5 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens in 2019, Rudolph had 131 passing yards and a touchdown before suffering a concussion after being hit by Ravens safety Earl Thomas. He was temporarily knocked unconscious and was relieved by Devlin Hodges. After clearing concussion protocol, he returned in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, throwing for 251 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in a 27–14 victory. The following week, he completed 26 of 35 passes for 191 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a narrow 26–24 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Rudolph’s 2019 season was defined by a notable altercation during a Week 11 Thursday Night Football game against the Cleveland Browns. With eight seconds left in regulation, a brawl broke out, and Browns defensive end Myles Garrett struck Rudolph in the head with Rudolph’s own helmet. Rudolph finished the 21–7 loss with 221 passing yards, a touchdown, and four interceptions. He was fined $50,000 by the league for his role in the scuffle but later declined to file criminal charges.
Rudolph finished his second professional season with 1,765 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 10 games and eight starts. He was placed on injured reserve on December 24, 2019, after suffering a sternoclavicular joint dislocation in his shoulder during a Week 16 game against the New York Jets.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2020–2023)
Heading into the 2020 season, Rudolph was named the second-string quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger. He saw limited action in relief of Roethlisberger during blowout wins and a Week 9 road victory over the Dallas Cowboys. On December 29, 2020, with the Steelers already having clinched the AFC North at 12–3, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that Rudolph would start the regular season finale against the Browns. He completed 22 of 39 passes for 315 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in the loss.
Rudolph signed a one-year contract extension with the Steelers on April 29, 2021. During Week 10 against the Detroit Lions, he earned his first start of the season after Roethlisberger was ruled out with COVID-19, finishing the 16–16 tie with 242 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He finished 2021 with 277 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception in two games and one start. Following Roethlisberger’s retirement after the 2021 season, general manager Kevin Colbert stated that the team would build around Rudolph.
Rudolph’s role diminished in 2022, when he was listed as third-string quarterback behind Mitchell Trubisky and rookie Kenny Pickett. On May 15, 2023, he signed a one-year deal with the Steelers for $1.35 million, taking a significant pay cut. He was named third-string quarterback again but was elevated to starter late in the season after injuries and poor play. In Week 16 against the Bengals, he completed 17 of 27 passes for 290 yards and two touchdowns in a 34–11 victory. He then started against the Seahawks, completing 18 of 24 passes for 274 yards in a 30–23 win. In the regular season finale against the Ravens, he completed 18 of 20 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown, setting a single-game franchise record for completion percentage. He started the Wild Card Round against the Buffalo Bills, completing 22 of 39 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in a 31–17 loss.
Tennessee Titans (2024)
On March 15, 2024, Rudolph signed a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. He made his Titans debut in Week 4 against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, replacing an injured Will Levis in the first half and leading the team on seven scoring drives in a 31–12 road victory, securing Tennessee’s first win of the season. He started in Week 7 against the Bills, completing 25 of 40 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown in a 34–10 loss.
Rudolph posted his best statistical performance of the season in Week 9 against the New England Patriots, completing 20 of 33 passes for 240 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in a 20–17 overtime victory, marking his first multiple-touchdown game as a Titan. After Will Levis returned, Rudolph made his next appearance in Week 15 against the Bengals, completing 21 of 26 passes for 209 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception for a season-high 109.5 passer rating in a 37–27 loss. He started the next two games against the Colts and Jaguars before alternating with Levis in the season finale against the Houston Texans. He finished 2024 with 1,450 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions to go along with 25 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown in eight games and five starts.
Pittsburgh Steelers Second Stint (2025–Present)
On March 13, 2025, Rudolph re-signed with the Steelers on a two-year, $8 million deal. During a Week 2 loss to the Seahawks, he saw the field for the first time since the 2023 season, relieving Aaron Rodgers late in the game and completing both of his passing attempts for 12 yards. In Week 11 against the Bengals, Rodgers suffered a wrist injury at the end of the first half, and Rudolph finished the 34–12 victory, completing 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown.
With Rodgers injured, Rudolph started the following week against the Chicago Bears, completing 24 of 31 passes for 171 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a 31–28 road loss. He finished the 2025 season with 310 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in five games and one start. The Steelers finished atop the AFC North with a 10–7 record and qualified for the playoffs as the #4-seed. During the Wild Card Round against the Texans, Rudolph relieved Rodgers at the end of the 30–6 loss and completed his lone pass attempt for two yards.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Rudolph’s career came in 2019 during the Thursday Night Football game against the Cleveland Browns, when he was involved in a high-profile on-field altercation with Myles Garrett. That same season, he set a Steelers single-game franchise record for completion percentage during the 2023 regular season finale against the Ravens. He is also the holder of numerous Oklahoma State passing records, including a single-season mark of 4,904 passing yards in 2017.
Mason Rudolph Career Wins
Throughout his NFL career, Mason Rudolph has earned several notable victories as both a starter and a relief quarterback. His most memorable win came in December 2023, when he led the Steelers to a 34–11 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals with 290 passing yards and two touchdowns. He followed that with wins over the Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens to close the regular season and secure a playoff berth.
Pittsburgh Steelers Highlights
During his first stint with the Steelers, Rudolph’s most significant win was a 27–3 Monday Night Football victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019, where he completed 24 of 28 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns. In 2023, he guided the team to three consecutive wins to close the regular season, setting a franchise record for completion percentage in the finale against the Ravens. During the 2025 season, he led Pittsburgh to a 34–12 win over the Bengals after relieving an injured Aaron Rodgers.
Tennessee Titans Highlights
Rudolph’s most notable win as a Titan came in his debut against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, where he led the team on seven scoring drives to secure a 31–12 road victory. He also guided Tennessee to a 20–17 overtime win over the New England Patriots in Week 9, throwing for two touchdowns in the game.
Mason Rudolph Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Mason Rudolph is the son of Brett and Jamie Rudolph. He was named after his father and grandfather. He grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in a family that supported his athletic ambitions from an early age. He is a Christian and has spoken publicly about the role his faith plays in his life.
Rudolph grew up as family friends with basketball player Luke Maye and quarterback Drake Maye. Their fathers played college football together at North Carolina in the 1980s, creating a long-standing connection between the families. He continues to live a relatively private personal life away from the spotlight of professional football.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Mason Rudolph’s return to the Pittsburgh Steelers after one year away with the Tennessee Titans. He signed a two-year, $8 million contract in March and served primarily as the backup to veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He saw limited action early in the year before taking on a larger role late in the season.
Rudolph finished the 2025 regular season with 310 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in five games and one start. His most productive performance came in relief of an injured Rodgers during a Week 11 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, where he completed 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. The following week, he started against the Chicago Bears and completed 24 of 31 passes for 171 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a narrow 31–28 road loss.
The Steelers finished the regular season atop the AFC North with a 10–7 record and qualified for the playoffs as the #4-seed. During the Wild Card Round against the Houston Texans, Rudolph relieved Rodgers late in the 30–6 loss and completed his only pass attempt for two yards. Despite the playoff exit, Rudolph’s 2025 performance reaffirmed his value as a reliable veteran backup and occasional starter for the Steelers.
