Pittsburgh Steelers icon Ben Roethlisberger has offered a straightforward recommendation regarding one of his former teammates, suggesting the organization move on from veteran quarterback Mason Rudolph. The former Super Bowl winner believes the current roster construction leaves little room for Rudolph, especially with several other signal-callers already in the mix.
The Steelers currently roster four quarterbacks heading into the upcoming campaign: established star Aaron Rodgers, along with promising prospects Will Howard and Drew Allar, plus Rudolph. Maintaining such depth at the position creates unnecessary redundancy, prompting calls for a roster adjustment.
Releasing Rudolph could create valuable flexibility under the salary cap. With the team focused on building for sustained success, trimming the quarterback room appears to be a priority for decision-makers in Pittsburgh.
“Personally, I think [cutting Rudolph] the smarter move,” Roethlisberger said. “You want to have two young guys because one of those could be your potential quarterback for the next five to ten years.”
Rudolph enters the final season of his current deal, carrying a base salary of $3 million. Moving on from that commitment sooner rather than later would allow the franchise to redirect resources toward other areas of need or future investments.
Throughout his career, Rudolph has posted modest production that falls short of starter-caliber expectations. The 30-year-old has accumulated 4,925 passing yards, 30 touchdown throws, and 22 interceptions across stints with the Steelers on multiple occasions and a brief period with the Tennessee Titans.
Team officials may explore trade possibilities first. Several clubs around the league could view Rudolph as a reliable backup option, particularly those searching for experienced depth at the position. Finding a suitable trade partner would benefit all sides involved.
Should no deal materialize, parting ways via release stands out as the reasonable follow-up step. This approach would clear the path for younger talent to develop without lingering questions about roster spots.
In the event of an injury to Rodgers, the depth chart already positions Allar and Howard ahead of Rudolph for any emergency duties. That alignment further underscores the limited role available to the veteran this coming season.
Rodgers delivered a solid performance in the prior year, throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions while completing 65.7 percent of his attempts. His presence provides stability, but the organization must still plan thoughtfully for long-term contingencies.
Last season, the Steelers captured the AFC North division title before falling to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round of the playoffs. That outcome highlighted both progress and the remaining gaps the team hopes to close in 2026.
Pittsburgh made several notable additions this offseason to support Rodgers, including the acquisition of wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts. The veteran quarterback will have an array of targets at his disposal, ranging from Pittman and D.K. Metcalf to tight ends like Robert Tonyan, Darnell Washington, and Pat Freiermuth, as well as emerging wideout Roman Wilson.
“I think we were close last year,” Rodgers said. “I think we added some good pieces. I felt like we needed a lineman probably at some point, drafted a guy in the first round that I like. I thought we needed somebody who could work in the slot. Obviously, Germie (Bernard), being picked there, is a guy they think can do it. Bring in (Michael) Pittman, was obviously a good addition. Rico Dowdle, Jamel (Dean) on defense. (Jaquan) Brisker as well, so a lot of good pieces added to the mix.”
Despite the optimism surrounding these enhancements, both Rodgers and the Steelers organization carry long droughts without postseason victories. The future Hall of Famer has not won a playoff game since 2020, while Pittsburgh last celebrated a playoff triumph back in 2016.
As the 2026 season approaches, attention will center on how this revamped group performs under pressure. Roethlisberger’s candid assessment on Rudolph reflects a broader conversation about balancing experience with youthful potential in pursuit of deeper playoff runs.
