Revisiting the Mason Rudolph-Myles Garrett helmet incident as Steelers' backup QB fills in for Aaron Rodgers

Mason Rudolph has done a lot of things in his football career.

But for many NFL fans, it's hard to separate the Pittsburgh Steelers' QB from what happened on November 14, 2019.

That's when the Steelers took on the Cleveland Browns, and it's when Myles Garrett swung a helmet at Rudolph.

For those who were watching, it's easy to still picture the unprecedented moment in our minds.

What happened with Mason Rudolph and Myles Garrett?

At the end of a fourth quarter play between the Browns and Steelers on Nov. 14, 2019. Garrett rushed the passer and after Rudolph had gotten rid of the ball, Garrett appeared to get a hand caught in Rudolph's helmet.

In ripping free his hand, Garrett yanked Rudolph's helmet off the QB's head and instead had it in his own hand.  

What was seen next was this: As a Pittsburgh offensive lineman holds off Garrett, Rudolph leaps up from the ground and attempts to chase after Garrett. That's when Garrett swings the helmet in his right arm and whacks Rudolph on the top of his head.

Rudolph almost immediately turns to the referee standing next to him with his arms outstretched, looking for a punishment.

Why did Myles Garrett hit Mason Rudolph with his helmet?

There are varying accounts for why Garrett hit Rudolph.

Garrett said on a February 2021 appearance on "Outside the Lines": "He called me the N-word. He called me a 'stupid N-word.'" Garrett initially alleged that during his suspension appeals process, saying "I know what I heard" after that account became public. 

Rudolph has repeatedly denied that such a phrase was uttered, saying "I couldn't believe he would go that route after the fact," and the NFL's investigation into the matter found no evidence to support it. 

Garrett elaborated during his February appearance on "Outside the Lines."

"I know something was said," Garrett told ESPN's Mina Kimes. "Now whether the NFL wants to acknowledge it, that's up to them. But I don't want to make it a racial thing, honestly. It's over with for me. And I'm pretty sure it's over with for Mason. So we just wanna move past and keep on playing football."

Garrett was suspended indefinitely, eventually missing six games about about $1.2 million in game pay.

The Steelers and Browns were each fined $250,000. And for the ensuing brawl, Pittsburgh's Maurkice Pouncey got a three-game suspension and Cleveland's Larry Ogunjobi got a one-game suspension.

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