Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed that he’s staying in touch with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and is comfortable with Mason Rudolph as the team’s starting quarterback.
“That’s why we brought him back,” Tomlin said during the league’s annual meetings on Monday. “I’m comfortable with that. And we’ve been there before.”
Rudolph went 3-1 as the starter for the Steelers in 2023, with the only loss coming in a wild-card matchup against Buffalo. Since Rudolph’s last stint with Pittsburgh, the team has hired a new offensive coordinator. Under Arthur Smith last season, the offense had mixed results.
“Mason is not a kid. He’s been around, been in multiple systems and situations,” Tomlin added.
When asked if he’s been in contact with Rodgers through calls, texts, or FaceTime, Tomlin replied, “All of the above.”
Tomlin also spoke about Rodgers’ visit to Pittsburgh, saying, “He’s a free agent. As you guys know, he came to visit last Friday. We had a really productive day. He’s been in this thing a long time. I’ve been in this thing a long time. But it’s no substitute for, you know, intimacy and spending time together and getting to know one another in a non-competitive environment. And so that was really good. But I don’t have any new updates in terms of where the process is. We’ll see where it leads us.”
When asked if the uncertainty around the team’s quarterback situation was unsettling, Tomlin responded, “I’m really comfortable with being unstuck at this time of year, to be quite honest with you.”
The Steelers allowed Russell Wilson (to the Giants) and Justin Fields (to the Jets) to leave in free agency and brought back Rudolph. Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game since reaching the AFC title game after the 2016 season.
With the 21st overall pick in next month’s draft, the Steelers are considering Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart, whether Rodgers signs with the team or not.
Tomlin also shared his thoughts on the upcoming draft class, saying, “It doesn’t appear to be devoid of talent.” He highlighted prospects like Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, adding, “I like a lot of the guys that I’ve met. Not only their tangible qualities, but their intangible qualities. And so, I’m feeling really good about the trajectory of the group.”
Regarding Rodgers, who is a free agent for the first time in his 20-year career, Tomlin said there’s no specific deadline for a decision. Rodgers could be considering retirement, signing with the Steelers, or waiting to see if the Minnesota Vikings show interest, though the Vikings seem ready to go with J.J. McCarthy.
“There is no drop dead date specifically in my mind, no,” Tomlin said.
