Mason Rudolph, the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has made his way back to the team, and it looks like he’s reclaiming his old jersey number as well. According to the team’s official site, Rudolph will once again don the No. 2 jersey, the same number he sported during his previous run with the Steelers.
Rudolph’s return with his familiar jersey isn’t too surprising, but it has interesting implications for cornerback Darius Slay. Slay, who wore No. 2 during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, might have hoped to continue with the same number in Pittsburgh. Traditionally, the Steelers restrict single-digit jerseys to quarterbacks, kickers, and punters, though there have been exceptions lately. For instance, linebacker Patrick Queen was allowed to keep his No. 6 jersey from his LSU and Ravens days, and wide receiver DK Metcalf, rather than requesting George Pickens’ No. 14, will now sport No. 4.
Ultimately, Rudolph seems to have the upper hand in claiming the No. 2 spot over Slay. To be fair, it wasn’t a deeply personal number for either player. Rudolph, who wore No. 2 in college, took up No. 11 last year with the Tennessee Titans. Slay, on the other hand, wore more “traditional” numbers like No. 24 when he initially joined the Eagles in 2020 and didn’t switch to single digits until 2021.
The No. 2 jersey seems fitting for Rudolph, as it might also signify his position on the team roster. The Steelers are still eyeing Aaron Rodgers as a potential starter, with Russell Wilson as a possible alternative. Securing either would place Rudolph as the reliable second-string quarterback. With his solid bench performance, he is considered one of the NFL’s more competent backup quarterbacks, offering the kind of seasoned support Pittsburgh values for its game-day roster.
As for the rest of the Steelers’ new signings, their jersey numbers remain a mystery for now. This includes inside linebacker Malik Harrison, running back Kenneth Gainwell, cornerback Brandin Echols, and Slay himself. We’ll probably know more about their numbers before the organized team activities (OTAs) kick off this spring.
