Former QB Issues Bold Take on Steelers' Aaron Rodgers, Mason Rudolph Debate

Newsweek

2 days ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Over the last week, there has been a lot of noise about Mason Rudolph potentially being the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Aaron Rodgers remaining a free agent, there are some who believe the team would be better off passing on Rodgers in favor of Rudolph.
While Rudolph has shown the ability to be a solid NFL starter when called upon out of his backup role, the idea that he's a better option than Rodgers is simply not accurate.
Rodgers put together a strong 2024 NFL season with the New York Jets. He completed 63 percent of his pass attempts for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Those numbers would be a huge upgrade for the Steelers under center.
Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets in action against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium on September 29, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Aaron Rodgers #8 of the New York Jets in action against the Denver Broncos at MetLife Stadium on September 29, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Photo byFormer NFL quarterback Chris Simms spoke out with his opinion on the discussion. He doesn't think the Rudolph vs. Rodgers debate is even close.
Read more: Donald Trump Predicts Shocking Outcome to Steelers' QB Situation
During an appearance on "Pro Football Talk," Simms made his thoughts very clear.
"I laugh because I hear people on TV go, 'I don't know, maybe Mason Rudolph will be every bit as good as Aaron Rodgers. He finished the year pretty strong, pretty good last year.' I got, what? You mean when Tennessee couldn't win a game at the end of the year?" Simms said.
He continued on, going more into detail about his thoughts about Rodgers.
"It's revisionist history. It's stomping on Rodgers maybe while he's down right now," he said. "We saw Rodgers play at a [high] level at the end of the year, even though it didn't mean anything. I know you and me sat in the viewing room [saying], 'Whoa man, Rodgers, whoa, whoa.' Throwing it downfield at Davante Adams. He is in a different stratosphere, even at this point of his career, than Mason Rudolph."
Read more: Steelers Hit With Troubling Aaron Rodgers Update
Rudolph played a decent amount last season with the Tennessee Titans. He appeared in eight games, completing 64 percent of his pass attempts for 1,530 yards, nine touchdowns, and nine interceptions.
While Rudolph could come in and play for Pittsburgh if called upon, he would not give them a Super Bowl chance like Rodgers would. There is no comparison between Rudolph and Rodgers, even with the future Hall of Famer at 41 years old.
It will be interesting to see what Rodgers chooses to do. He is still widely expected to sign with the Steelers, but that isn't set in stone.
For more Pittsburgh Steelers and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.