Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hasn’t officially retired yet, but the battle to succeed him as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starter is already on. Dwayne Haskins made a declaration of war.

Munich/Pittsburgh – For the first time in nearly 20 years, the starting quarterback spot for the Pittsburgh Steelers is open.

Ben Roethlisberger, previous and undisputed starter, will in all likelihood end his Hall-of-Fame career. The 21:42 in the Wild Card Round at the Kansas City Chiefs was almost certainly his last game.

Haskins: “I was drafted as a starter “

But who takes over after that is still an open question. Now one of the backups, Dwayne Haskins, has spoken out: “I can definitely be the starter, that’s what I was drafted for,” Haskins told ESPN. Selected by the Washington football team in the first round of the 2019 draft, he was released after 13 starts (3-10 record) due to a strip club visit during the height of the pandemic.

“I have the talent to play with the best, but honestly haven’t been able to show it yet. I need to get my act together in the offseason,” the 24-year-old explained.

The former Washington quarterback will become a free agent in the offseason, but the Steelers have all the rights to keep him under contract as he was under a future contract in 2021.

Mason Rudolph’s Fighting Statement

But it wasn’t just Haskins who was asked about the current situation, first backup Mason Rudolph didn’t hold back with fighting words either. “I’m ready to fill those big shoes,” Rudolph said on “ESPN. “

“I will get the opportunity to prove myself again,” Rudolph continued. “I understand I’m still being scrutinised after everything I’ve shown so far.” In 2019, Rudolph filled in for the injured Ben Roethlisberger, winning five of eight games for 1,765 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions and a passer rating of 82.0.

“I want to prove people who doubt me wrong. I also want to prove it to myself and my teammates,” Rudolph explained.

The verbal battle for the starting quarterback position with the Steelers is already underway.