This is a very extreme idea that the Steelers certainly wouldn’t do
The Pittsburgh Steelers have had a rough stretch of quarterback play since Ben Roethlisberger retired. In each season since, they have had a different Week 1 starter, and will continue that trend in 2025. Mitch Trubisky started in 2022, Kenny Pickett in 2023, and Justin Fields in 2024.
In 2025, it will very likely be Aaron Rodgers who is under center when the season begins. If it’s not, though, ESPN NFL analyst Booger McFarland says the Steelers should take to extreme measures. In an appearance on NFL Live, McFarland said that the Steelers’ defensive leaders should refuse to show up if Mason Rudolph is the quarterback for Pittsburgh.
“When you talk about Cam Heyward and T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick – if you go out there with Mason Rudolph in game one, if I’m Cam Heyward, I might not even show up,” McFarland said. “Because if you’re not going to put forth the effort offensively or organizationally, why do you want me out here?”
Now, obviously nothing is guaranteed. But if Rudolph was the quarterback, no one is boycotting or refusing to show up. The Steelers went 3-1 with Rudolph in their final three games and a playoff game the last time he was in a Steelers uniform, and their offense took off and looked like an actual offense when he took the reins down the stretch in 2023.
Again, it will likely be Rodgers for the Steelers, but no one is going to refuse to play if it’s Rudolph.