Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back, Rashard Mendenhall has been in the news a lot lately. Mainly because of one post he had in December 2023 where he speculated whether or not a team full of white players or a team full of black players would win in a game, which sparked a ton of internet controversy. Since then, he has been on Ryan Clark's show, The Pivot, where the two spoke about their fallout following Clark's comments about Mendenhall's Super Bowl fumble. Now, Mendenhall is back on X, posting that he should be considered a GOAT and Super Bowl MVP.
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Former Steelers running back, Rashard Mendenhall (#34) carries the football during Super Bowl XLV against the Green Bay Packers in Dallas, Texas.
Steelers Former Back Says He Should Be Considered One Of The Greatest
Mendenhall is known for one thing from his NFL career, his fumble in Super Bowl XLV, which was a big reason the Steelers fell to the Green Bay Packers. Aside from that horrible play, Mendenhall had a decently successful career. He was drafted by Pittsburgh in the first-round in 2008, rushed for over 1,000 yards twice, had over 35 total touchdowns, and even got himself a Super Bowl win in his rookie year. Very solid NFL career. But, according to Mendenhall, had he never fumbled in Super Bowl XLV, he would be considered one of the greatest of all-time.
"So according to you, I'm a play away from having two Super Bowl trophies and a Super Bowl MVP in six seasons. That's circling GOAT status..."
Mendenhall seems to be addressing this post at all fans who blame him for the Steelers loss in Super Bowl XLV. The fumble happened at the beginning of the fourth quarter of the game, and the Steelers were down 21-17. They were driving as they had the ball at the Packers' 34-yard line when Mendenhall fumbled. Worst comes to worst, they get a field goal out of the possession and it is a one-point game. Instead, the Packers recovered the fumble and scored a touchdown on their next possession.
New York Post
Rashard Mendenhall operated as the Steelers' lead back for three seasons, recording a whopping 324 rushing attempts in 2010.
Obviously, it is not solely Mendenhall's fault the Steelers lost. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger also threw two interceptions in the game and one was returned for a touchdown. The Steelers were simply out-played that day.
There is a lot to unpack from Mendenhall's post stating that he would be considered one of the greatest to ever do it and would have won Super Bowl MVP had he not fumbled. Let's start with Mendenhall hypothetically being one of the greatest to ever do it, assuming he never fumbled the football and the Steelers won Super Bowl XLV. Mendenhall would have had two Super Bowl wins, one of which being Super Bowl XLIII which Mendenhall did not play in due to an injury he suffered earlier in the season.
New York Times
Former Steelers running back, Rashard Mendenhall fumbles during Super Bowl XLV.
Mendenhall would still be sitting at 210 on the NFL's all-time career rushing yards list. That wouldn't have changed even with the fumble reversal. He has less career rushing yards than Russell Wilson, Jordan Howard, and Austin Ekeler. In order to be considered one of the greatest to ever do it, Mendenhall would probably also have to be in the Hall of Fame. The lowest Hall of Famer on the NFL's career rushing yards list, who was a true running back, is Gale Sayers, who sits in slot 160. Sayers was in the NFL for one less season than Mendenhall, has more rushing yards than him, and was an All-Pro in every season. One Super Bowl trophy isn't propelling Mendenhall up to Sayers' level.
USA Today Sports
Former Steelers wide receiver, Mike Wallace left the team after four seasons in Pittsburgh, and he was never able to have the same success after.
In Mendenhall's post, he is also assuming that had the Steelers won that game, he would have won Super Bowl MVP. He had scored a touchdown earlier in the game, and had 63 yards on 14 carries for a 4.5 yard average. His eight-yard touchdown run to open up the second half did certainly put the Steelers back in the game as it made the score 21-17. He certainly had a case for MVP had Pittsburgh won, but so did some other players. Hines Ward had seven receptions for 78 yards and a score, while Mike Wallace had 89 yards on nine catches and a touchdown.
The Steelers' previous two Super Bowl MVPs were won by receivers. Ward in Super Bowl XL and Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLIII. So, had the Steelers completed the comeback, it's likely an important play was made by either Ward or Wallace, which would have earned them the recognition. Mendenhall assuming he would have won it is crazy, almost as crazy as him thinking if he never fumbled, he would be considered one of the greatest to ever play the game.
What do you think about Mendenhall's comments? Let us know in the comments below!
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