Tomlin’s Steelers did not enjoy an easy ride in 2023. Their offense was dreadful, so much that Tomlin decided during the season to fire coordinator Matt Canada. Quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered amid the struggles and his own injury issues, being replaced by Mitchell Trubisky after getting hurt, and spending the final three weeks on the bench as a healthy backup to elevated former third-stringer Mason Rudolph.

The entire experience has thrown Pittsburgh’s future under center into question. Pickett is no longer trending toward a surefire face of the franchise, while Rudolph is scheduled to hit free agency in March. Tomlin said on Thursday the Steelers certainly have interest in doing business with Rudolph, setting up a possible offseason/training camp battle for the job, should they manage to retain the veteran.

“He will, but obviously there will be competition,” Tomlin said when asked if Pickett will return as the Steelers’ starter. “There’s always competition in this thing. We don’t anoint anyone. I’m appreciative of his efforts and where he is and excited about continuing to work with him, but certainly he will be challenged from a competition perspective moving forward. Competition brings the best out in all of us.”