Mason Rudolph: This season was a ‘mental battle’

The Steelers quarterback opened up about this season

It goes without say that the 2023 season featured a lot of unexpected detours for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The same can be said about their quarterback, whom they’ve rode to a three-game win-streak as they snuck into the playoffs on the season’s final day.

Mason Rudolph wasn’t expected to be on the Steelers’ roster this season after he entered free agency, and it was a big surprise when he came back on a one-year deal. The former third-round pick opened up about the past year when speaking to the media on Wednesday.

“When you don’t get a lot of interest in a free agency period and then sit in the three spot for training camp and the season, it’s a definitely a mental battle,” Rudolph said. The way to win that battle is work every day and be thankful for the reps you’re given.”

Rudolph also said that multiple former teammates and coaches have reached out to him to wish him luck, including former offensive linemen Maurkice Pouncey, Ramon Foster, and Alejandro Villanueva.

Rudolph appears to have earned all the trust from his current teammates and coaches, leading the Steelers to a 3-0 record while throwing for 239 yards per game and three touchdowns to help the Steelers snag the seventh and final seed in the AFC playoffs.