The Steelers struggled mightily in the first half of Thursday night’s game vs. the Patriots with backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky leading the team.
Trubisky threw an interception to start the second quarter, which the Patriots quickly turned into points, scoring their second touchdown of the night just three plays later. This was enough for Steelers fans to begin chanting for the third-string quarterback, Mason Rudolph.
Despite Rudolph seeing no action yet in the 2023 season, Acrisure Stadium filled with “Rudolph” chants, with some fans even singing the holiday song “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.”
However, the chants didn’t work as coach Mike Tomlin kept Trubisky in.
#Steelers fans chanting "Mason Rudolph" in Pittsburgh...
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 8, 2023
(🎥 @Jsko_Photo)pic.twitter.com/CEFJqpl0Wr
The Steelers will have to figure out something to do as starter Kenny Pickett just underwent surgery following the high ankle sprain he suffered on Sunday. He will likely be out for a few weeks, although the return timeline is uncertain.
The sentiment to bring Rudolph in the game flooded onto social media, too, as football fans begged the Steelers to change quarterbacks. Fans couldn’t believe they felt so desperate to call for the team’s third-string quarterback.
There's an audible Mason Rudolph chant at Acrisure after Mitch Trubisky's interception.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 8, 2023
How the turn tables.
Imagine how down bad you have to be as a franchise to have your whole stadium chanting for Mason Rudolph to play
— Jon Ledyard (@LedyardNFLDraft) December 8, 2023
A franchise with six Super Bowls wins has their fans chanting for Mason Rudolph, the opening day third-string QB.
— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) December 8, 2023
The worst part is that the chants are justified. This is rock bottom.
One of our own players down with an injury. Several teammates kneeling. And what do we hear in Acrisure Stadium?? MASON RUDOLPH, MASON RUDOLPH… pic.twitter.com/gzLz6ST8GJ
— Sam Highsmith (@HighsmithHigh5) December 8, 2023
Mason Rudolph still kicking around?
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) December 8, 2023
chanting for mason rudolph is the most down bad any fan base has ever been in sports history.
— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) December 8, 2023
They're chanting "MASON RUDOLPH" here.
— Christopher Carter (@CarterCritiques) December 8, 2023
The end times people. The end times. #Steelers
Just have to see what Mason Rudolph has. This is low. Lowest I have been in a while. So sad
— Jersey Jerry (@Jerrythekid21) December 8, 2023
Do you realize how bad things are when fans actively want Mason Rudolph to enter the game?
— Neal Coolong (@NealCoolong) December 8, 2023
Trubisky was able to get a little bit of love back from fans before halftime, connecting with wide receiver Diontae Johnson for a touchdown to cut the Steelers' deficit to 21-10.
