Steelers QB Mason Rudolph says he’s not sorry for backing Trump — here’s how the Steelers responded

Mason Rudolph just stirred the pot in Pittsburgh and it wasn’t over football. The Steelers quarterback stepped into the political spotlight this week when he appeared on stage at a Donald Trump rally in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.

And while fans lit up social media in protest, Rudolph isn’t flinching. In fact, he made it clear: he’s not sorry, and he’s not backing down.

Rudolph appeared with Trump at a steel tariff rally in Pennsylvania, and the moment went viral

It wasn’t just any rally, it was a full-on campaign stop by former President Donald Trump, who was in town promoting steel tariffs and hammering home his 2024 election platform. Mason Rudolph wasn’t alone on stage either. He was joined by Steelers safety Myles Killebrew and former team legend Rocky Bleier.

But it was Rudolph’s presence that grabbed headlines fast. As clips spread across social media, fans reacted with shock that the Steelers quarterback was standing front and center next to Trump especially in such a public setting during a volatile election cycle.His response to the backlash? “That’s the nature of social media... and why America’s so great”Naturally, the internet erupted. But when asked about the outrage, Rudolph kept his cool and delivered a calm, unapologetic answer.

“There’s backlash every day you look on social media. That’s the nature of social media, and it’s the nature of why America’s so great because everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And speech is free.”That statement came during the Steelers' voluntary team workouts, and he made it clear, he’s not walking anything back. He believes in free speech, and he sees his support as part of that.

The Steelers had to clarify that Rudolph doesn’t speak for the whole team

Things escalated so much that the Steelers organization actually sent a letter to fans after the event.

In it, they stressed that Rudolph’s actions and political views don’t reflect those of the franchise. It was a classic PR move, support the player without endorsing the politics.

This isn’t the first time a team’s had to walk that line, and it likely won’t be the last as more athletes get pulled into the political spotlight.As always, fans are split right down the middle. Some are praising Rudolph for standing up for what he believes in. Others are calling him out, saying they’ve lost respect and some even say they’ll stop supporting the team altogether.Whether it’s freedom of speech or just football fans wanting a break from the noise, one thing’s clear, this debate is far from over.Also read - Baker Mayfield’s colorful new look and the heartwarming reason behind it will melt your heart