With the 2025 NFL Draft just days away and Aaron Rodgers still ghosting the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers have no QB1. And while Steelers fans hold their breath for Rodgers or a rookie savior, the front office decided to bring back a familiar face: Mason Rudolph.
To say the move has been met with mixed reactions would be an understatement. On one hand, Rudolph helped steady the ship during a chaotic 2023 season. On the other, his time with the Tennessee Titans in 2024 didn’t exactly scream “starting-caliber QB.” And now, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, a vocal and die-hard Steelers fan, is taking the gloves off, torching Rudolph’s return in classic fashion during the April 21 episode of “First Take.”
‘Mr. Mayonnaise’ Over Rudolph? Stephen A. Smith Shreds Steelers’ QB Decision
Smith didn’t hold back when discussing Pittsburgh’s current quarterback situation, particularly the decision to bring back Rudolph. “There’s two things he’s known for: Number one, having nearly got knocked upside his head with own helmet by Myles Garrett. And number two, he was in Tennessee and couldn’t play ahead of Mr. Mayonnaise himself, Will Levis. That’s it,” Smith said.
The jab at Levis — who went viral in 2022 for putting mayonnaise in his coffee — landed squarely on Rudolph’s rep. Smith made it clear that this isn’t the kind of résumé that should inspire hope in a fan base desperate for answers. “And I’m supposed to be excited about that if I’m a Pittsburgh Steelers fan? C’mon, y’all. I need some help,” he said, throwing his hands up in disbelief.
It’s not just about Rudolph’s past. Smith believes this decision sends the wrong message, especially when you consider the talent Pittsburgh has already assembled on offense. “You can’t have DK [Metcalf] and [George] Pickens and [Pat] Freiermuth and an improved offensive line and you’re giving us Mason Rudolph or [Skylar Thompson],” Smith added. “We can’t have this.”
It’s a fair criticism. The Steelers traded for Metcalf earlier this offseason, paired him with rising star George Pickens, and invested in their offensive line. But with no clear signal-caller under center, all that firepower risks going to waste. Rudolph’s return — especially after failing to earn snaps in Tennessee — feels more like a placeholder than a plan.
Meanwhile, the Steelers’ quarterback future remains as murky as ever. Aaron Rodgers has been linked to Pittsburgh for weeks, but he appears in no rush to make a decision. The holdup is that, like Kirk Cousins and Derek Carr, Rodgers doesn’t want to mentor a rookie. Pittsburgh has been linked to several impending first-year signal-callers, including Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, and Tyler Shough.
Until Rodgers decides — or the draft gives them another option — Pittsburgh’s best bet might just be Rudolph. And that, according to Smith, is precisely the problem.