“I’ve had plenty of adversity” - Mason Rudolph refuses to flinch as Aaron Rodgers’ arrival in Steelers flips team's QB room

The Pittsburgh Steelers have officially signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers, putting an end to one of the league's most notable sagas in 2025. The team decided against using an early pick on a quarterback during the draft, with Rodgers always the most likely option to start during the next season.

But the veteran's arrival had an overall impact on the roster. Mason Rudolph was projected to be the starter in case Rodgers' arrival didn't happen; now, he's back to being a backup for the franchise, with rookie Will Howard also looking for the quarterback #2 spot.

The quarterback was present at PNC Park as the Pittsburgh Pirates played on Saturday, and naturally, his new position with the Steelers was a topic of discussion. Rudolph, in his second stint with the team that drafted him, seemed to accept his fate:

"I had a feeling they were going to bring somebody in. Obviously, Aaron was at the forefront of the conversation for a long time. It won’t change my approach. We’ve got one more week of practice coming up, our mandatory minicamp. It will be nice to get everybody in the building. I’ll keep doing what I’ve done my whole career. I’ve had plenty of adversity and found a way to battle through it. I stayed ready to play well when called upon.”

Details of Aaron Rodgers' contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers

The veteran signed a one-year deal worth $13.65 million, which can be increased to $19.5 million with incentives. At 41 years of age, there's no reason for the two sides to engage in a long-term deal.

NFL reporter Mike Florio gave his take on what the two sides are trying to accomplish with their reunion:

"For Rodgers, the goal is to have a better end to his career than a two-year disaster with the Jets. For the Steelers, the goal is to win a playoff game for the first time in nearly a decade."

The Steelers have made the playoffs four times over the past five seasons, but they were unable to win a single postseason game. The hope is that the veteran can have one more special season on him to break the eight-year drought, as their last playoff win happened in 2016.