October 6, 2019. It was a frightening scene at Heinz Field.
Mason Rudolph had been given the keys to the Pittsburgh Steelers offense a few weeks earlier after Ben Roethlisberger was sidelined with a season-ending elbow injury.
Games are always a touch more physical between division rivals, and this matchup between the Steelers and Baltimore Ravens was a prime example.
Under pressure on a critical 3rd & 11 from the Pittsburgh 12-yard line, Rudolph ran to buy time before completing a 26-yard pass to James Washington. On the play, he was knocked unconscious by a nasty hit to the jaw from Baltimore safety Earl Thomas. The crown of his helmet connected with Rudolph’s head and sent him to the turf.
The play drew a flag, eventually leading to a $21,000 fine for Thomas. It was debated for weeks — probably still would be today — whether the hit was dirty.
Players gathered around Rudolph’s motionless body, and cameras captured JuJu Smith-Schuster crying as he watched the scene unfold. Fans booed as the video boards replayed the hit, and chants of “throw him out” soon followed. Thomas was not ejected, and the league stood by its decision, stating it didn’t “raise to the standard of a disqualification,” per rules analyst Dean Blandino.
Several anxious moments later, Rudolph was helped to his feet minus his face mask — an image people still can’t get out of their heads four years later.
To add insult to injury, when medical staff tried to get Rudolph off the field, the cart was inoperable, and Rudolph was forced to be guided gingerly to the locker room.
Pittsburgh lost in a close one, 26-23, leaving them with a 1-5 record.
It was a tough first season of play for the second-year quarterback. After missing the following week in concussion protocol, Rudolph returned and led the Steelers to the opposite 5-1 record. His one loss in that span was to the Cleveland Browns in the infamous Helmetgate game, where Myles Garrett clobbered Rudolph with Rudolph’s own helmet.
Despite the 5-1 record, he was benched for Devlin “Duck” Hodges. When the short-lived phenomenon died and Duck was yanked in the middle of the Week 16 loss to the Jets, Rudolph came in and injured his shoulder 20 attempts later.
Statistically, Rudolph’s first season at the helm was a mixed bag. He won five of eight starts, but with nine interceptions and four fumbles, turnovers were an issue. He finished with 1,726 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Let’s hope Rudolph’s first time facing the Ravens since that dreadful day in 2019 is a little less dramatic and ends with the Steelers still in playoff contention.
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