As a diehard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, you know that this storied franchise has had some of the greatest quarterbacks ever to grace an NFL field. From Hall of Famers like Terry Bradshaw and soon, Ben Roethlisberger, to near Super Bowl champions such as Kordell Stewart and Neil O'Donnell—it's clear that the history of the team is inextricably linked to their performance under center. Now more than ever, it’s time for us to take a look back at those amazing signal-callers who have stepped into the Steel City over the decades and find out who is truly worthy of being labeled ‘The Greatest QB's in Steeler History.’
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Terry Bradshaw.
Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw is one of the most iconic figures in Steelers’ history. The Hall of Famer and former NFL MVP played for the team between 1970 and 1983, leading them to four Super Bowl championships during that time. During his time in Pittsburgh, Bradshaw threw for 27,989 passing yards and 212 touchdowns, with 210 interceptions. He also rushed for 2,257 yards and 32 touchdowns. His career passer rating of 70.9 may not seem impressive today, but it was considered excellent at the time.
Off the field, Bradshaw earned three Pro Bowl selections and even claimed an All-Pro selection in 1978. That same year, he was awarded both the Bert Bell Award for League MVP and NFL MVP—a rare double-honor that further cemented his legacy as one of the greatest QB's of all-time. And in 1989, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame—a fitting recognition for a man who had truly left an indelible mark on Steelers’ history.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger was the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2004 until he retired before last season. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest players in franchise history. After being drafted 11th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft, he quickly established himself as a top-tier signal-caller and helped lead the team to two Super Bowl titles during his tenure.
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His distinguished career is highlighted by six Pro Bowl selections, four AFC Championship Games, and an impressive record of 165 wins against 81 losses and one tie as a starter. He holds several Steelers’ records, including most all-time passing yards (64,088) and touchdowns (418). His 93.5 passer rating places him at sixth all-time among NFL quarterbacks with at least 2,000 pass attempts.
In addition, Roethlisberger has rushed for 1,373 yards and 20 touchdowns over his career—a feat that partially helped him earn the 2004 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Roethlisberger will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest quarterbacks in Steelers’ history due to both his on-field accomplishments as well as his off-field leadership.
Steelers QB Neil O'Donnell
Neil O'Donnell is remembered as one of the more underrated quarterbacks in Pittsburgh Steelers’ history. He was drafted out of Maryland in the second round of the 1990 NFL Draft and spent five seasons with the team from 1991-1995. During his time with the Steelers, O'Donnell posted a 39-22 record as a starter, throwing for 12,867 passing yards and 68 touchdowns against 39 interceptions.
He recorded an 81.8 passer rating during his tenure with Pittsburgh and added 323 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. O'Donnell earned a Pro Bowl selection in 1992 following an impressive season where he threw for 5,491 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions while leading the team to a 10-6 record and an AFC Central division title.
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He also participated in two consecutive AFC Championship Games during his stint with Pittsburgh, helping them advance to Super Bowl XXX following the 1995 season. Unfortunately for O’Donnell and the Steelers, their bid for a championship would be thwarted by the Dallas Cowboys that year; however, his contribution to Pittsburgh's success over those five years should not go unrecognized.
Conclusion
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been blessed with several talented quarterbacks throughout their history. From Bradshaw's record-breaking feats to Roethlisberger's run of success over the past decade, each one has left an indelible mark on Steelers' lore and helped propel the team to multiple Super Bowl titles. And while O'Donnell may not be as well-remembered as his counterparts, his contributions to Pittsburgh during the 1990's should not go unrecognized.
NFL picks that involve the Steelers this season will certainly be worth keeping an eye on; after all, the team has a long and storied tradition of success due to its remarkable quarterbacking history.
