Quarterback Kenny Pickett did not speak to the media following the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-17 playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills. Therefore, the media was unable to ask Pickett about his future in Pittsburgh.
But it was a major topic at the end-of-the-season press conference for head coach Mike Tomlin.
Tomlin shared with reporters that Pickett will return as the team’s QB1 next season. But the head coach suggested that Pickett will have to earn the right to keep his job.
“There’s always competition in this thing. We don’t anoint anyone,” Tomlin told the media on January 18. “Man, I’m appreciative of his efforts and where he is and excited about continuing to work with him.
“But certainly, he will be challenged from a competition perspective moving forward. Competition brings the best out in all of us.”
As Tomlin continued to answer questions about his quarterback who didn’t play again after suffering an ankle injury on December 3, he said he’s already talked to Pickett about the fact that the 2024 season will “be a big year” for him.
Pickett went 7-5 as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback in 2023. He posted the exact same record during his rookie season in 2022.
Pickett’s individual statistics mostly stayed the same as well in his second season. He posted a 62% completion percentage and averaged 6.4 yards per pass with 6 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in 12 games during 2023.
Including the playoffs, Mason Rudolph started the final four contests for the Steelers. Rudolph went 3-1 with a 68.1% completion percentage and 8.4 yards per pass average. He also had 5 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Mike Tomlin Says Steelers Want Mason Rudolph to Supply Competition for Kenny Pickett
In addition to Pickett, Tomlin addressed Rudolph’s future in Pittsburgh. However, Tomlin wasn’t willing to say as much about Rudolph because he’s a pending free agent.
“He is a free agent and it is free agency,” Tomlin told reporters. “So, we’ll see where that leads us.”
But Tomlin did express that the Steelers organization wants Rudolph to return.
Rudolph played the best football of his career in the final three regular season games of 2023. With him behind center, the Steelers averaged 24.5 points per game including the playoffs.
In games where Pickett started during 2023, the Steelers averaged 16 points per contest.
During Rudolph’s first two starts, the Steelers offense scored at least 30 points. They didn’t have a 30-point performance prior to Rudolph entering the lineup in Week 16.
The question, though, is whether Rudolph will want to return. After playing well for a few weeks, this could be his chance for a significant free-agency payday.
He also may prefer to sign with a team where he will be considered the clear-cut starter. With the Steelers, he would have to compete with a former first-round pick for the starting job.
But for what it’s worth, Rudolph expressed a desire to return immediately after the playoff loss.
“I love the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Rudolph told reporters. “They’ve been my only home for six years. We’ll see what happens. Like I said, it’s not really my decision. A lot of it is outside of my control. We’ll see what happens.”
Could Bringing Back Rudolph Cause Friction in the Steelers Locker Room
Steelers wide receiver Diontae Johnson caused a bit of a stir after the loss to the Bills when he said Rudolph “gets the job next year.” Taken at face value, that comment is an endorsement for the Steelers to sign Rudolph and name him the starter.
If it was indeed an endorsement, the Steelers already have a player picking sides with a quarterback. Other players could do the same if the Steelers held an open quarterback competition next training camp.
Tomlin, though, downplayed the likelihood of a quarterback competition having a negative impact on the team.
“I think competition is good,” Tomlin said. “I think it’s good for all of us. I think it brings out the best in all of us.”
Besides Rudolph, Tomlin faced questions about whether the Steelers would consider bringing in a new quarterback to compete with Pickett. Tomlin didn’t decline that as an option, but toward the end of his press conference, he simply answered “yes” to whether the team’s 2024 starting quarterback is currently on the roster.
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Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Breaks Silence on QB Kenny Pickett’s Future