Brett Mason Rudolph III (born July 17, 1995) is an American professional football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award during his last year before being drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft. Rudolph has also played for the Tennessee Titans.
From 2018 to 2022, Rudolph primarily served as a backup, making occasional starts. He re-signed with the Steelers in 2023 and spent most of the season as the third-string quarterback before being named the starter late in the season. Rudolph led the Steelers to three consecutive wins, setting a franchise record for completion percentage in the final regular-season game and started in the Wild Card Round against the Buffalo Bills. After one season in Tennessee, Rudolph returned to Pittsburgh in 2025.
Early life Rudolph was named after his father and grandfather; he is not related to the former golfer Mason Rudolph. Rudolph attended Westminster Catawba Christian School before transferring to Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina. During his career, Rudolph passed for 10,986 yards and 132 passing touchdowns. As a senior, he accounted for 80 total touchdowns and threw for 4,400 yards as he led the Trojans to a 15–0 record, 4A State Championship and #7 national ranking. Rudolph played in the Annual Shrine Bowl All-Star game and was named the offensive MVP as he led South Carolina on a game-winning drive in the final 20 seconds. Rudolph was a finalist for South Carolina's "Mr. Football" award. He was rated by Rivals.com as a four-star recruit and was ranked as the ninth-best pro-style quarterback in his class. Rudolph committed to Oklahoma State University to play college football.
College career
Rudolph entered his true freshman season in 2014 as a third string behind J. W. Walsh and Daxx Garman. After Walsh was injured, Garman became the starter with Rudolph as his backup. After Garman was injured, Rudolph started his first career game against the Baylor Bears. During the game, Rudolph completed 13-of-25 passes for 281 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. He remained the starter for the final two games, including the 2015 Cactus Bowl victory against the Washington Huskies. In three games total, Rudolph completed 49-of-86 passes for 853 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Rudolph was named the starter for the 2015 season, a role he held for the remainder of his tenure at Oklahoma State.
In 2017, Rudolph led the NCAA with 4,904 passing yards. He was the recipient of the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award which is given annually to the country's outstanding senior college quarterback. He was also awarded the Sammy Baugh Trophy, was named second-team All Big-12, and was the Camping World Bowl MVP.
Rudolph finished his college career starting 41 games, throwing for 13,618 yards, 92 touchdowns, and 26 interceptions. He also rushed for 28 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Professional career Pre-draft Rudolph attended the NFL Scouting Combine and completed most combine drills, but opted to skip the bench press, broad jump, short shuttle, and three-cone drill. On March 15, 2018, he participated at Oklahoma State's pro day and completed the three-cone drill, short shuttle, broad jump, and ran passing drills. Rudolph met with scouts and team representatives from the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, and Los Angeles Chargers privately after completing his pro day. Rudolph attended private workout and visits with the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, Steelers, Giants, and Chargers. At the end of the pre-draft process, Rudolph was projected to be a second-round pick by the majority of NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked as the sixth best quarterback prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com, Scouts Inc., and Sports Illustrated.
Pittsburgh Steelers (first stint) 2018 season
The Steelers selected Rudolph in the third round (76th overall) of the 2018 NFL draft. They traded their third-round (79th overall) and seventh-round (220th overall) picks to the Seattle Seahawks in order to move up three spots and select Rudolph with the 76th overall pick. He was the sixth quarterback selected in 2018.
On May 23, 2018, the Steelers signed Rudolph to a four-year, $3.92 million contract with a signing bonus of $932,264. Throughout training camp, he competed against Landry Jones and Joshua Dobbs for the backup spot behind Ben Roethlisberger. Head coach Mike Tomlin ultimately named Rudolph the third quarterback, as Jones was released. Rudolph did not receive a single snap as a rookie.
2019 season During the preseason, Rudolph was named the second quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger, eclipsing Joshua Dobbs after multiple successful preseason performances.
During Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks, Rudolph made his NFL debut after relieving an injured Roethlisberger in the second half and finished the narrow 28–26 loss with 112 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Following the announcement that Roethlisberger would miss the rest of the season due to season-ending elbow surgery, Rudolph became the Steelers' starting quarterback. Rudolph made his first NFL start in the next game against the San Francisco 49ers and threw for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception during the 24–20 road loss. The following week against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football, Rudolph completed 24-of-28 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns in the 27–3 victory.
During a Week 5 26–23 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Rudolph had 131 passing yards and a touchdown before suffering a concussion in the third quarter after being hit by Ravens safety Earl Thomas and was temporarily knocked unconscious, being relieved by Steelers third-string quarterback Devlin Hodges. Rudolph was cleared from concussion protocol on October 16, 2019. He returned in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football and threw for 251 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception during the 27–14 victory. The following week against the Indianapolis Colts, Rudolph completed 26-of-35 passes for 191 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in the narrow 26–24 victory.
During Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football, with eight seconds left in regulation, Rudolph was involved in a brawl with several players from both teams. Rudolph completed a pass to running back Trey Edmunds. Myles Garrett of the Browns then tackled Rudolph late, after the pass had been completed. While the two were entangled on the ground, Rudolph's glove got stuck to Garrett's helmet. Garrett as a reaction then grabbed at Rudolph's helmet and removed it. When Rudolph ran after Garrett, Garrett struck Rudolph in the head with Rudolph's own helmet. During and after this altercation, additional players came into the fray and further fighting occurred. Rudolph finished the 21–7 road loss with 221 passing yards, a touchdown, and four interceptions. Three players were ejected and later suspended for the incident, particularly Garrett, who was suspended for the rest of the 2019 season. For his role in the scuffle, Rudolph was fined $50,000 by the league. He later declined to file criminal charges, calling the situation an NFL matter. Garrett later claimed that Rudolph used a racial slur in the build-up to the altercation and requested that the league check any audio they had on the field, but an NFL spokesperson said they had no audio, and their investigation had found no such evidence to support Garrett's claim.
During Week 12 against the still-winless Bengals, Rudolph struggled again, throwing for 85 yards and an interception before being benched for Hodges in the third quarter who led the Steelers to a 16–10 comeback victory. Two days later, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that Hodges would remain the starting quarterback for the following week's game against the Browns. During Week 16 against the New York Jets, Rudolph came into the game after struggles from Hodges in the second quarter, completing 14-of-20 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown before leaving the eventual 16–10 loss during the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury. It was later revealed that he suffered a sternoclavicular joint dislocation in his shoulder, and Rudolph was placed on injured reserve on December 24, 2019.
Rudolph finished his second professional season with 1,765 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 10 games and eight starts.
2020 season Rudolph was named second-string quarterback on the depth chart going into the 2020 season behind Ben Roethlisberger, beating out Joshua Dobbs for the backup role.
During a Week 9 24–19 road victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Rudolph came into the game in the second quarter after Roethlisberger suffered an ankle injury. Rudolph completed two of three passes for three yards before Roethlisberger returned in the second half. Rudolph also made appearances in relief of Roethlisberger during the fourth quarter of blowout victories over the Browns, Bengals, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
On December 29, 2020, with the Steelers already locking up the AFC North with a 12–3 record, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that Rudolph would start the regular season finale on the road against the Browns in order to rest Roethlisberger in preparation for the playoffs. In that game, Rudolph completed 22-of-39 passes for 315 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. With the Steelers down 24–22, Rudolph attempted to tie the score by throwing a two-point conversion to rookie wide receiver Chase Claypool. However, the pass was incomplete, which set up the Browns to run out the clock, ending the game without either team having another scoring play.
Rudolph finished the 2020 season with 324 passing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception in five games and one start.
2021 season Rudolph signed a one-year contract extension with the Steelers on April 29, 2021.
During Week 10 against the Detroit Lions, Rudolph got his first start of the season after Ben Roethlisberger was ruled out with COVID-19. Rudolph finished the 16–16 tie with 242 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception. During a Week 16 36–10 road loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, he relieved Roethlisberger in the fourth quarter and threw for 35 yards.
Rudolph finished the 2021 season with 277 passing yards, a touchdown, and an interception in two games and one start.
2022 season Following the 2021 season, Ben Roethlisberger retired and the Steelers staff showed confidence in Rudolph. During the offseason, general manager Kevin Colbert stated that the team would "build around" Rudolph.
On September 5, 2022, the official Steelers depth chart was released showing Rudolph being listed at second-string quarterback behind Mitchell Trubisky and ahead of rookie Kenny Pickett. The next day, Rudolph was demoted to third-string quarterback with head coach Mike Tomlin citing a "clerical error" in the original depth chart. Throughout the regular season, Rudolph was relegated to third-string duties and did not receive a single snap.
2023 season
On May 15, 2023, Rudolph signed a one-year deal with the Steelers for a guaranteed salary of $1.35 million, taking a $2 million cut from his previous contract with the team.
During the preseason, early reports indicated that Rudolph was outperforming Mitchell Trubisky in competition for the backup role. Despite these reports, Rudolph was ultimately named third-string quarterback yet again, where he would receive one rep per practice for much of the season.