Aaron Rodgers could potentially be the lead man in Pittsburgh following the four-time MVP’s release from the Jets upon the start of the new league year. But as the NFL world awaits Rodgers’ decision, which includes interest from other teams and perhaps even retirement, the Steelers are adding a familiar face to the QB room.

Rudolph began his career in Pittsburgh as a third-round pick in 2018 and spent a full year sitting behind Ben Roethlisberger before seeing any regular-season action. When the time came, he was certainly tossed into the fire, playing in 10 games (eight starts) in a wild 2019 season that also saw Pittsburgh turn to Devlin Hodges for six starts.

Over the course of Rudolph’s first four seasons in Pittsburgh, he made 10 starts, appeared in 17 total games and briefly offered glimpses of a potential successor to Roethlisberger. Eventually, the Steelers learned Rudolph wasn’t that guy, but was a rather reliable backup, which he proved in his final days in Pittsburgh by helping the Steelers win their final three games en route to a once-unlikely playoff berth in 2023.

With a year apart and both of the Steelers’ 2024 starting quarterbacks no longer on the roster, they’re welcoming Rudolph back into town. We’ll see which veteran he lands behind on the depth chart as a trusted source of security.