Mason Rudolph signed with Tennessee Titans for 1 reason, and it’s proof the team is evolving

It’s been a long time since a free agent signed with the Tennessee Titans for the reason quarterback Mason Rudolph did.

“It’s a quarterback-friendly offense,” Rudolph said Thursday, speaking to Nashville media for the first time since signing with the Titans in March. “That was obviously attractive, too. The drop-back pass and the way that Coach (Brian) Callahan teaches, it makes a lot of sense. I’m excited to keep learning it.”

Rudolph arrived in Nashville just two days before voluntary Titans offseason activities began, driving up alone from his native South Carolina to join a Titans team in transition from its decades-long run-first identity to more of a passing team. He’s thrust himself into quarterback meetings with Will Levis and Malik Willis, adjusting to life with a new team for the first time in his NFL career after six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Rudolph was 8-4-1 as a starter across his Steelers tenure, including three straight wins to guide Pittsburgh into the playoffs last season. He set career highs in completion percentage, yards per pass attempt, yards per game and passer rating in 2023, all while without throwing an interception.

Now Rudolph brings that dependability to Nashville, playing in an offense he knows well, at least on reputation from playing against Callahan’s Cincinnati Bengals twice a year for the past five years. He unites with offensive coordinator Nick Holz, who he says he also knows on reputation, and with quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree, who recruited Rudolph out of high school when he worked at LSU.

Rudolph compliments the work Titans GM Ran Carthon has done this offseason. He uses the word “explosive” to describe what a Titans offense built around receivers Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins, running backs Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard and tight end Chig Okonkwo can be. He’s impressed by Levis, who he said he sent text messages to after watching him from afar last year to tell him he played well.

Despite his experience as a starter, or perhaps thanks to it, Rudolph says he wants to do what he can to support Levis’ growth and development. But before he can do that, he has to master the Titans’ brand-new offense.

“So I felt like I’m coming here to do whatever I can to help our team win and help Will and the quarterback room and keep bettering myself and learning the system,” Rudolph said. “I’ve got a new offense, so that’s been fun to get to work and get my note cards out and start studying formations and motions. It’s going well.”