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Mike Tomlin Explains Why Steelers Chose Mitch Trubisky

Mike Tomlin said Mitch Trubisky is in a better spot to start for the Pittsburgh Steelers than Mason Rudolph.

Stephen Thompson

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PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers have two options to replace the injured Kenny Pickett on their roster currently but head coach Mike Tomlin was clear in the wake of a loss to the Arizona Cardinals that his team would roll with Mitch Trubisky over Mason Rudolph this week against the New England Patriots. 

There's a simple reason why the Steelers like Trubisky over Rudolph - as the second-stringer, Trubisky is simply better prepared to work with the first-team offense because of how the team divides up snaps in practice. 

“You can’t give work to three guys, to be quite honest with you," Tomlin said. "Most of Mason Rudolph’s work comes on scout team offense and so Mitch has been in position to get the most work.”

Tomlin went on to explain that Trubisky has gravity as a leader and experience as the centerpiece that makes him an ideal candidate to be the Steelers backup and earn those elevated reps in practice. He and the rest of the team feel comfortable with Trubiksy leading their offense. 

“He has an outgoing and welcoming personality, he’s a good communicator, he’s been a franchise quarterback before so he’s comfortable in those shoes," Tomlin said. "He doesn’t behave like a backup that’s being elevated and I think those are the things that make him attractive.”

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Stephen Thompson
STEPHEN THOMPSON

Stephen Thompson graduated with a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from Pitt in April 2022 after spending four years as a sports writer and editor at The Pitt News, the University of Pittsburgh's independent, student-run newspaper. He primarily worked the Pitt men's basketball beat, and filled in on coverage of football, volleyball, softball, gymnastics and lacrosse, in addition to other sports as needed. His work at The Pitt News has won awards from the Pennsylvania News Media Association and Associated College Press. During the spring and summer of 2021, Stephen interned for Pittsburgh Sports Now, covering baseball in western Pennsylvania. Hailing from Washington D.C., family ties have cultivated a love of Boston's professional teams and Pitt athletics, and a fascination with sports in general. 

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