Mason Rudolph found himself in the middle of an unexpected viral moment during Monday Night Football, but he’s now clarifying that the rumors swirling around him were far from true. Despite speculation, Rudolph was not on his phone messaging anyone during the game, nor did he slide into anyone’s DMs at halftime.
The confusion arose during the Tennessee Titans’ 31-12 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Monday night. Rudolph, who stepped in for the injured rookie Will Levis, completed nine of 17 passes for 85 yards, helping the Titans secure a much-needed win at Hard Rock Stadium. While his on-field performance garnered praise, off the field, a peculiar rumor began to spread, fueled by a Dolphins fan’s post on social media.
Joey Mauriello, a Dolphins fan who works for Jake Paul’s sports betting company, Betr, posted a video during the game claiming that Rudolph had messaged his girlfriend, Amanda Casey Vance, on Instagram. Vance, a former Dolphins cheerleader, was brought into the joke when Mauriello sarcastically said he’d “give her up” in exchange for a Miami victory, given how poorly the Dolphins were playing. The post humorously referenced a supposed direct message from Rudolph to Vance.
The viral post featured a disclaimer that the “screenshot is from months ago,” but that detail didn’t stop the internet from running wild with the idea that Rudolph had messaged Vance during the game. With the post gaining attention, Rudolph was eventually asked about the incident.
RELATED: Menendez Actor Nicholas Alexander Chavez ‘Blown Away’ by NFL Star’s Impressive Acting Debut
In an interview on The Doug Gottlieb Show, Rudolph set the record straight, confirming that the interaction occurred months ago and certainly not during Monday’s game. He explained that Vance had initially messaged him first before he even signed with the Tennessee Titans, and the entire situation had been exaggerated for comedic effect.
“No, it was a response, and it was about eight months ago. It was definitely not in between second down and third down, that’s for sure,” Rudolph clarified. “But a good frame job. A good frame job for a little 15 seconds of fame, I guess. That’s what these kids are going for.”
While the DM saga provided some lighthearted distraction, Rudolph’s focus was on his performance and helping his team secure a win. Having led the Pittsburgh Steelers to the playoffs last season, Rudolph once again proved he can step up in relief when needed.
However, Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan confirmed after the game that once Will Levis is fully healthy, he will return to his starting role.
For now, Mason Rudolph seems content with his backup role, focusing on football rather than Instagram rumors. As for the viral moment, it appears to be nothing more than a social media joke that got blown out of proportion.
