Steelers’ Next Man Up Mentality Hits Quarterback Room
Oct 29, 2023; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reacts on the sidelines against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
With Kenny Pickett undergoing tightrope ankle surgery and being out for possibly the next 3-4 weeks, the Pittsburgh Steelers are set to enter another quarterback carousel. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has already named Mitchell Trubisky the starting quarterback for this week’s matchup, but the former No. 2 overall pick didn’t exactly get a ringing endorsement.
“He gets the most work,” Tomlin said during Monday’s press conference on why Trubisky was named the starter. “You can’t give work to three guys, to be quite honest with you. Most of Mason Rudolph’s work comes on scout team offense so Mitch has been in position to get the work.”
Since joining the Steelers, Trubisky has always been either the starter or the number two option under center and rightfully so. He was slotted as franchise quarterback in Chicago, proved to be a solid backup behind Josh Allen in Buffalo, and has been a veteran voice in the quarterback room in Pittsburgh. He’s also started five games in Pittsburgh over the last two seasons and has played in 10 while throwing for 1,525 yards and four touchdowns to go along with five interceptions.
Given Trubisky’s history, Tomlin is also comfortable with what the former Tarheel provides as a leader.
“He has an outgoing and welcoming personality, Tomlin said. “He’s a good communicator, he’s been a franchise quarterback before and he’s comfortable in those shoes. He doesn’t behave like a back-up that’s being elevated. I think those are things that make him attractive.”
So, while working on a short week ahead of a matchup with a Bill Belichick-led defense, of course Tomlin would go with the obvious choice. Who wouldn’t? Why complicate things further by going to your third-string quarterback?
All that being said, Tomlin said he was comfortable with the team’s quarterback situation moving forward, but he wasn’t committed to Trubisky beyond this week.
“I’m comfortable with our ability to prepare and win this football game,” Tomlin said. “I kind of live one week at a time.”
Behind Trubisky, Rudolph would be the next obvious choice. After being drafted in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Rudolph has spent all five seasons of his career in Pittsburgh and has played in 17 games but hasn’t taken a snap since 2021 when he started one game, a 16-16 tie against the Detroit Lions.
In total, he’s started 10 games for Pittsburgh and has thrown for 2,366 yards and 16 touchdowns. Most of those starts came in 2019 when he started eight games and went 5-3 but threw nine interceptions on 283 attempts.
That being said, Tomlin is comfortable with what his third-string quarterback can provide.
“We have experience with him and he has experience within our program,” Tomlin said. “He’s a good idea guy. He’s a good sounding board for the guys that are in. So it’s a real comfortable thing for us, his presence and him being elevated, no doubt.”
The Steelers also signed free agent quarterback Trace McSorley to their practice squad Monday, to play in the “emergency quarterback” role.
After their primetime matchup Thursday night though, it seems as though it could be anyone’s job. The Steelers are known to embrace a next-man-up mentality and if they are given time to prepare, Tomlin said there are no excuses.
“Given time to prepare, one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity,” Tomlin said. “Those are some of the words that we live by.”
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