PITTSBURGH — Mason Rudolph will return to FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday afternoon, 416 days after his professional football career careened off course. Myles Garrett’s assault of Rudolph late in a 21-7 loss and its fallout undoubtedly did more damage to Rudolph than Garrett.
Rudolph was accused of using a racial epithet before Garrett smacked him over his head with his own helmet. The Steelers stood behind Rudolph, who vehemently denied the accusation, but it didn’t much matter. His name had been dragged through the mud, and his once-promising season took a dramatic turn for the worse.
Rudolph was visibly bothered by Garrett’s allegation and the distraction it caused for his team. The Steelers would go on to lose three of their final four games and miss the playoffs while Rudolph’s season ended with a fractured clavicle and a damaged reputation.
Meanwhile, Garrett signed a five-year, $125 million contract extension in July and had his indefinite suspension lifted before the season began.
Nothing is fair in life or the NFL, but Rudolph has an opportunity to exact some revenge against Garrett and the Browns. If Rudolph and the Steelers beat the Browns and keep them from the playoffs, the Strip District's T-shirt makers will have a new one to sell: Karma 2.0.
Not that Rudolph is thinking about it that way.
“It’s a division opponent, a rival opponent we know well,” Rudolph said Friday afternoon following practice. “Outside of that, I really could care less who it is. It’s big for me regardless, for myself and a lot of other guys to prove myself to my teammates and coaches. That’s what’s motivating me.”
Rudolph might not show his emotions for this game, but his teammates have seen him prepare with an edge this week. Running back James Conner said Rudolph is “fired up” to play.
Garrett apparently is, too. On Friday, he said he asked Browns coach Kevin Stefanski if he could be the team captain for this game, and the rookie head coach obliged. Garrett said he wouldn’t hesitate to hit Rudolph if he gets an opportunity.
“He’ll get hit just like everybody else,” Garrett said. “I’m not going to put a pillow under his head before I hit him, but I’m not going to do anything extra.”
Garrett continued to accuse Rudolph of using a racial slur in interviews long after the November incident. He brought it up again in an ESPN interview in February, but he’s been silent since Rudolph’s camp threatened legal action if he did it again.
Since then, Rudolph said Garrett “has not reached out to me in any capacity.” He said he would be open to talking to Garrett before or after the game.
“I’m happy to hear Myles out if he wants to approach me or talk,” Rudolph said.
That’s the juicy storyline on Sunday afternoon, but this game has a bigger meaning for Rudolph. Next year he’ll be in the final year of his rookie contract. The Steelers need to make a decision about his long-term future at some point in the next year or so.
The Steelers had a first-round grade on Rudolph when they selected him in the third round of the 2018 draft. Despite his struggles last season, Rudolph said he still sees himself as a starting-caliber quarterback in the league, and this is an opportunity to showcase his talents.
“I think every time I get an opportunity, any player on our team gets an opportunity to play in a game when maybe you haven’t had a chance to play all year, those plays are weighted differently by the coaching staff,” Rudolph said. “I’m excited to get into the flow of the game. I don’t want to make it too big. It’s a chance to score some points and try to win a ball game.”
Rudolph, who was 5-3 as a starter last season, dealt with two injuries and two benchings, one during a poor outing against the Bengals and the other coming after the Browns game when he threw four interceptions. Undrafted rookie free agent Devlin Hodges, who is on the practice squad this season, was given the reins for the final four games.
In a Week 16 game at the New York Jets, Hodges struggled and Rudolph relieved him after he was benched. He sparked the Steelers to 10 points late in the first half, but he injured his clavicle early in the second half. His season — and the Steelers’ playoffs hopes for all intents and purposes — ended that day inside MetLife Stadium.
Rudolph didn’t have the benefit of a preseason in 2020, and he’s only played in mop-up duty this season. Yet offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner senses a better version of Rudolph in his third season.
“Well, I do believe I see a confidence,” Fichtner said. “I don’t hear a confidence. And I don’t know how to explain it. He doesn’t have to tell me that he’s confident. You can just feel it. He understands the concepts that you talk about. He shakes his head, ‘Yes, I feel it, I’m good.’ He goes out and represents it on the field. I think his communication skills have gotten better all-around in the huddle, in the locker room, in individual meetings. Just his whole ‘Mason’ has just kind of grown up a little bit.”
Rudolph feels better about his game, as well. He is confident about giving input to Fichtner and Roethlisberger during the week and on the sidelines during games. On Sunday afternoon, he’ll have a chance to prove he’s a better player than the last time he took the field against the Browns.
“Even back in training camp, I could just feel myself being more comfortable in our offense, more comfortable with Randy’s style of play-calling, with my teammates,” Rudolph said.
“I’m not going to be too hyped up. You treat it like a day of work. What an opportunity. I’m excited to lead the team and play in a meaningful game.”
