Mason Rudolph is staying with the Pittsburgh Steelers after all.
Pittsburgh signed the longtime backup quarterback to a one-year deal Wednesday, a somewhat unlikely return after Rudolph was essentially passed over twice for a chance to become a starter following the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger after the 2021 season.
SUPER BOWL CHAMPION HAS WORDS OF WISDOM FOR UNREGISTERED FREE AGENTS
Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers calls for a play in the first half during the 2021 NFL Preseason Hall of Fame Game against the Dallas Cowboys at Tom Benson Hall Of Fame Stadium. (Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
The Steelers selected Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 draft and he went 5-4-1 while making intermittent starts between the 2019 and 2021 seasons, passing for 2,366 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to make a passing play against the Detroit Lions in the third quarter at Heinz Field. (Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Although head coach Mike Tomlin and then-general manager Kevin Colbert said they felt Rudolph could be a full-time starter in the NFL after Roethlisberger retired, the club signed Mitch Trubisky to a two-year deal in the spring of 2022, then selected Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 draft.
Mason Rudolph #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Rudolph spent most of last season as the No. 3 quarterback and was inactive on game days.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He entered the free agent market in March, but with organized team activities starting later this month and seemingly few opportunities elsewhere in the offing, he decided to return to Pittsburgh as something of a security blanket behind Pickett and Trubisky. .