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). Born on July 17, 1995, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, he played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, where his senior year included the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and the Sammy Baugh Trophy. Selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft by Pittsburgh, Rudolph has spent most of his career as a backup while producing several notable stretches as a starter. He also spent a season with the Tennessee Titans before returning to the Steelers in 2025.
Across his professional tenure, Rudolph has been recognized for his passing efficiency in spot starts, including a single-game Steelers record for completion percentage during the 2023 regular-season finale. Standing at 196 centimeters and listed at approximately 107 kilograms, he brings a tall, pocket-oriented presence to the quarterback position. While he has not held a full-time starting role for consecutive seasons, his late-season performances have influenced postseason outcomes for his teams.
Early Life and Background
Mason Rudolph was born and raised in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He is the son of Brett and Jamie Rudolph, and he was named after both his father and his grandfather. Rudolph has clarified that he is not related to the former professional golfer of the same name. He attended Westminster Catawba Christian School before transferring to Northwestern High School in Rock Hill to complete his high school career.
At Northwestern, Rudolph developed into one of the most productive passers in South Carolina high school history, accumulating 10,986 career passing yards and 132 passing touchdowns. As a senior, he led the Trojans to a perfect 15–0 record, a 4A state championship, and a number seven national ranking. That season, he threw for 4,400 yards and accounted for 80 total touchdowns. He was named offensive MVP of the Shrine Bowl All-Star Game after a game-winning drive in the final twenty seconds, was a finalist for South Carolina’s Mr. Football award, and was rated a four-star recruit by Rivals.com.
Off the field, Rudolph grew up in a tight-knit family environment and has maintained a Christian faith throughout his life. He developed early friendships through his parents, particularly with the families of basketball player Luke Maye and quarterback Drake Maye, as their fathers had played college football together at North Carolina during the 1980s.
Path to Professional Football
Rudolph committed to Oklahoma State University and entered the Cowboys program in 2014 as a third-string quarterback behind J. W. Walsh and Daxx Garman. After injuries to both veterans, he started his first collegiate game against the Baylor Bears and completed 13 of 25 passes for 281 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He held the starting job for the final two games of that season, including a victory in the 2015 Cactus Bowl against the Washington Huskies.
In 2015, Rudolph was officially named the Cowboys’ starter, a role he would retain for the remainder of his college career. He started 41 games across his tenure, finishing with 13,618 passing yards, 92 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions, while also rushing for 17 touchdowns. His senior season in 2017 was his most decorated, as he led the nation with 4,904 passing yards and earned the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Sammy Baugh Trophy, second-team All-Big 12 honors, and Camping World Bowl MVP recognition.
Following the 2017 season, Rudolph attended the NFL Scouting Combine and Oklahoma State’s pro day. Most draft analysts projected him as a second-round selection, and he was ranked as the sixth-best quarterback prospect in the 2018 class. The Pittsburgh Steelers traded up to select him with the 76th overall pick in the third round, making him the sixth quarterback taken in that draft.
Mason Rudolph Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
The Steelers signed Rudolph to a four-year rookie contract in May 2018 and initially listed him as the third quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger and Landry Jones. After Jones was released, Rudolph moved up the depth chart during training camp and entered the regular season as the primary backup. His NFL debut came in Week 2 of the 2019 season after Roethlisberger suffered a season-ending elbow injury, and he went on to make ten starts that year.
Rudolph’s 2019 performance included his first career win as a starter against the Cincinnati Bengals, with 229 passing yards and two touchdowns in a 27–3 victory. However, his season also included a concussion suffered against the Baltimore Ravens and a widely discussed on-field incident against the Cleveland Browns in which he became involved in a brawl with defensive end Myles Garrett. Rudolph finished the year with 1,765 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and nine interceptions across eight starts before a sternoclavicular joint dislocation ended his season in December.
Pittsburgh Steelers Stint (2020–2023)
From 2020 through 2022, Rudolph served primarily as a backup behind Roethlisberger and later Mitchell Trubisky and Kenny Pickett. He appeared in relief roles during the 2020 season and started the regular-season finale against the Browns, throwing for 315 yards and two touchdowns. In 2021, he started against the Detroit Lions after Roethlisberger was sidelined by COVID-19, finishing with 242 passing yards in a 16–16 tie. The 2022 campaign saw him relegated to third-string duties without taking a regular-season snap.
Rudolph returned to the starting lineup late in the 2023 season after injuries and inconsistent play ahead of him on the depth chart. He threw for 290 yards and two touchdowns in a victory over the Bengals, followed by 274 yards in a road win against the Seattle Seahawks. Against the Baltimore Ravens, he completed 18 of 20 passes and set a single-game Steelers record for completion percentage, helping Pittsburgh clinch a playoff berth. He started the Wild Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills, throwing for 229 yards and two touchdowns in a 31–17 loss. He became a free agent after the season.
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, replacing an injured Will Levis and leading seven scoring drives in a 31–12 road victory. He started against the Buffalo Bills in Week 7 and later produced his statistical best game of the year against the New England Patriots, completing 20 of 33 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns in a 20–17 overtime win. He also started late-season games against the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars. Rudolph finished the 2024 campaign with 1,450 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions in eight games and five starts.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return (2025)
Rudolph re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 13, 2025, on a two-year, $8 million contract. He saw his first action of the season in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, briefly relieving Aaron Rodgers late in the game. In Week 11, he took over after Rodgers suffered a wrist injury against the Cincinnati Bengals and completed 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown in a 34–12 victory. He started the following week against the Chicago Bears, throwing for 171 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a 31–28 road loss.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rudolph is recognized as a pocket passer with strong intermediate accuracy and efficient mechanics. His late-season performances with Pittsburgh in 2023 highlighted his ability to deliver high completion percentages under pressure, and his arm strength has allowed him to push the ball downfield when defenses compress the short areas. He has shown poise in two-minute and comeback situations, particularly during the 2023 stretch run and the 2024 Titans debut.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Rudolph’s signature moments are his late-2023 surge with Pittsburgh, which included setting a franchise completion percentage record against the Ravens, and his 2024 Titans debut that produced seven scoring drives in a road win. His involvement in the 2019 Browns-Steelers brawl and subsequent fine remains one of the most scrutinized on-field incidents of his career.
Mason Rudolph Career Wins
Mason Rudolph has recorded regular-season victories as a starter with both the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans. His wins include the 27–3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019, three consecutive late-season wins with Pittsburgh in 2023, and multiple road victories with Tennessee in 2024. He has also contributed playoff starts, including the 2023 Wild Card matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Steelers Highlights
With Pittsburgh, Rudolph has delivered several high-volume passing performances, including 315 yards against the Cleveland Browns in 2020 and 290 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023. His record-setting 18-of-20 performance against the Baltimore Ravens helped secure a playoff berth. While he has yet to record a postseason win, his late-season form has repeatedly stabilized the Steelers’ offense during critical stretches.
Titans Highlights
Rudolph’s most productive outing with Tennessee came against the New England Patriots, where he passed for 240 yards and two touchdowns in an overtime win. He also led a Week 4 victory over the Miami Dolphins in his Titans debut, marking the franchise’s first win of the 2024 season.
Mason Rudolph Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Rudolph is the son of Brett and Jamie Rudolph. He was named after his father and grandfather and has spoken publicly about his Christian faith. He grew up with family ties to the Maye family, including basketball player Luke Maye and quarterback Drake Maye, due to long-standing friendships between their fathers.
Personal Life
Rudolph maintains a relatively private personal life outside of football. He has built his professional career around consistent training and reserve roles, with public details about long-term relationships, spouse, or children not disclosed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks Rudolph’s return to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a two-year deal, serving as the primary backup to Aaron Rodgers. After limited early-season opportunities, he assumed a larger role following Rodgers’ wrist injury in Week 11. His performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he completed 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, signaled a seamless transition back into the Steelers’ offense. He followed that with a start against the Chicago Bears in Week 12.
Within Pittsburgh’s offensive structure, Rudolph has operated within a balanced scheme that emphasizes intermediate routes and play-action opportunities. His familiarity with the Steelers’ system from his earlier tenure has allowed for quick integration, and his arm strength has been evident on intermediate and sideline throws. With Rodgers’ status uncertain, Rudolph’s role for the remainder of the 2025 season is expected to expand.
Looking ahead, Rudolph remains under contract through 2027, providing the Steelers with experienced depth at the quarterback position. His consistent mechanics, late-season track record, and familiarity with head coach Mike Tomlin’s staff make him a stabilizing presence for a team navigating injuries and transitions in the quarterback room.