Mason Rudolph has early lead in Steelers QB2 competition on initial depth chart

With Aaron Rodgers returning for a 22nd season, Mason Rudolph, Will Howard, and Drew Allar will have to wait for their turn as the main quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rodgers said it will be his final hurrah, so Rudolph, Howard, and Allar might want to maximize their time learning from the all-time great.

The Steelers entered the offseason unsure if the 42-year-old Rodgers would still play. He took a long time to make a decision. Eventually, he signed a one-year, $22.5 million contract. It was proof of Pittsburgh’s trust in the four-time MVP.

Clearly, the question now is who will back him up? Based on the depth chart released by the Steelers, which was shared by Pittsburgh Tribune Review’s Chris Adamski, Rudolph is slotted in as QB2.

“Wow, two weeks earlier than usual, we have an official Steelers depth chart,” noted Adamski.

Wow 2 weeks earlier than usual we have an official Steelers depth chart pic.twitter.com/4PHZ5rN8em

— Chris Adamski (@C_AdamskiTrib) August 5, 2026

The Steelers are in their first year under coach Mike McCarthy, who won the Super Bowl with Rodgers on the Green Bay Packers in 2011.

The depth chart could still change, of course, but for now, it seems McCarthy already has the signal-caller hierarchy in place.

The 31-year-old Rudolph appeared in six games in his return to Pittsburgh last season, throwing for 310 yards and two touchdowns. He was drafted by the Steelers in the third round in 2018, playing for the squad until 2023. He signed a one-year, $3.6 million deal with the Tennessee Titans in 2024.

He can provide stability when Rodgers heads to the bench. But Rudolph has to be wary of his spot as QB2, as the Steelers might want to expedite the growth of Howard, whom the team drafted in the sixth round in 2025.

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