Outgoing Pittsburgh Steelers GM Kevin Colbert gives QB Mason Rudolph vote of confidence

PITTSBURGH — With the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback job is officially up for grabs.

On Monday, outgoing general manager Kevin Colbert gave former backup Mason Rudolph a vote of confidence.

«If we started a season today, Mason would be our starter, and we're excited to see where that can go,» Colbert said in his annual availability with local media prior to the NFL Combine. «Mason's 5-4-1 as an NFL starter, albeit in a backup kind of role, but we're excited to see what is next for Mason.»

Rudolph started one game for the Steelers in 2021, an 11th-hour decision after Roethlisberger tested positive for COVID-19 a day before the Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions. Rudolph completed 30 of 50 attempts for 242 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a game that finished in a tie. In 2019, Rudolph started eight games after Roethlisberger's season-ending elbow injury. It was a tumultuous season for the then-second-year quarterback, and he finished completing 62 percent of his attempts with 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

But the Steelers invested in Rudolph's development, hiring Matt Canada as quarterbacks coach for the following season. And after Canada was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2021, the team brought in respected quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan to work with the group.

«I'm comfortable that Mason has won more games than he's lost as a starter,» Colbert said. «Where that can go, we'll see. To be an NFL starter that you can win with, you gotta prove it over 16 games. I'm anxious to see that, if that's the case.»

Rudolph, who is entering his fifth year with the organization, is the only quarterback on the roster currently under contract for the 2022 season,