The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the best quarterbacks of all-time at the helm in four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, who is leading them into the postseason with Super Bowl aspirations.
Rodgers, who signed with the Steelers for the 2025 season after two years with the Jets, has predictably re-energized the Steelers' championship hopes, with Pittsburgh winning the AFC North for the first time since 2020. His season has been marked by his customary efficiency, but a late-season injury against the Bengals forced the spotlight onto the security blanket waiting on the bench.
That security blanket is Mason Rudolph, who returned to the Steelers in 2025 after a one-year stint elsewhere. The veteran backup — who had previously authored a late-season winning streak that propelled the Steelers into the playoffs — remained a steady presence throughout the year. When Rodgers was sidelined, Rudolph stepped in and managed the offense, reinforcing the team’s confidence that they are well-insulated against the catastrophe of a star quarterback’s absence.
While Rodgers is the franchise's heartbeat, Rudolph’s history in the organization, combined with the presence of rookie Will Howard, means the Steelers' confidence rests on a surprisingly deep and reliable foundation.
Here's more on the quarterback room behind the NFL legend.
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Who is the Steelers backup quarterback?
The Steelers' primary backup is Mason Rudolph. Rudolph returned to the Steelers on a two-year deal in March 2025 after spending a season with the Titans, a move that brought back a familiar and trusted presence to the quarterback room behind Rodgers. Rudolph is valued by the organization for his proven ability to keep the team competitive when called upon.
Rudolph was required to step into the starting role when Rodgers exited a Week 11 victory over the Bengals with a wrist injury. In that game, Rudolph delivered a solid performance, completing 12 of 16 passes (75.0% completion rate) for 127 yards and one touchdown in the win. He started the next week against the Chicago Bears, completing over 77% of his passes for 171 yards in the loss.
Rudolph started the AFC Wild Card game against the Bills on January 15, 2024, after leading the Steelers to three consecutive wins to secure the playoff berth. The team ultimately fell 31-17, but Rudolph finished the game having completed 22 of 39 passes for 229 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. This appearance marked his only career playoff start, albeit in a losing effort against a top AFC contender.
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Steelers QB depth chart
| Position | Player |
| 1 | Aaron Rodgers |
| 2 | Mason Rudolph |
| 3 | Will Howard |
Along with Rudolph, the Steelers have rookie quarterback Will Howard in the quarterback room.
The Steelers selected Howard in the sixth round (185th overall) of the 2025 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, where he won a CFP National Championship. His collegiate career also included four seasons at Kansas State. He was placed on the team's injured reserve list to begin the 2025 season after fracturing his hand during a practice in August, which forced him to miss the preseason. However, he was activated off injured reserve in November, but has not yet taken a snap in a regular-season NFL game.
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