The Pittsburgh Steelers have seen many historic and legendary players throughout the franchise's history. Among them, Ben Roethlisberger and Terry Bradshaw
stand out as the greatest quarterbacks. Both Roethlisberger and Bradshaw dominated their eras and led the Steelers' offense to exceptional heights. Combined, they won six Super Bowls, with Bradshaw securing four and Roethlisberger winning two.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger celebrates after winning his second Super Bowl.
Debating who was the better quarterback is challenging due to the different eras in which they played. Bradshaw was a dominant force during the 1970s, a time when NFL quarterbacks often threw riskier deep balls, making his statistics harder to compare without watching him play. Over his 14-season career, Bradshaw recorded 107 wins and 51 losses, completed 51.9% of his passes, threw for 212 touchdowns and 210 interceptions, and amassed 27,989 passing yards.
Roethlisberger, who played for 18 seasons, led the Steelers to a 165-81-1 record. He completed 64.4% of his passes, threw for 418 touchdowns and 211 interceptions, and accumulated 64,088 passing yards. Statistically, Roethlisberger appears to be the greater quarterback. However, the different eras must be considered, and even Bradshaw has expressed a desire to play in the modern era to showcase his skills.
Ian Valentino of The 33rd Team analyzed the greatest quarterbacks in each of the 32 NFL teams' histories. When it came to choosing the Steelers' greatest quarterback of all time, Valentino selected Roethlisberger over Bradshaw.
“For as meaningful as Terry Bradshaw was for the Pittsburgh Steelers' Steel Curtain dynasty, Ben Roethlisberger evolved from a successful game manager as a rookie to a feared big-play hunter who drove elite offenses throughout his prime.”
Valentino acknowledged that choosing Roethlisberger over Bradshaw was a tough decision due to Bradshaw's pivotal role in the Steelers' dynasty of the 1970s. However, Valentino couldn't overlook the significant statistical differences between the two legendary quarterbacks.
“Bradshaw won two more Super Bowls than Big Ben but barely finished his career by completing over half his passes and with more touchdowns than interceptions. Roethlisberger had over 36,000 more yards, 216 more touchdowns, and only one more interception in 81 more games.”
Bradshaw is a Hall of Famer, four-time Super Bowl champion, two-time Super Bowl MVP, three-time Pro Bowler, and one-time All-Pro. Roethlisberger, a six-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion, was renowned for his resilience and powerful arm, making him a formidable opponent.
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Steelers' Terry Bradshaw throws a pass during Super Bowl XIV.
These attributes led Valentino to declare Roethlisberger the greatest quarterback in the Steelers' storied history. Valentino is confident that in 2027 when Roethlisberger is eligible for the Hall of Fame. He will be a lock to make it.
“With his powerful arm, the ability to stay upright through contact, and playmaking, Roethlisberger was always amongst the league leaders in key metrics. He led the league in yards twice and earned six Pro Bowls. Roethlisberger will be a Hall of Fame lock when he's eligible in 2027.”
If Bradshaw and Roethlisberger had swapped eras, the statistics might tell a different story. For those who never saw Bradshaw play in the 70s, it's challenging to grasp his greatness from stats alone.
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Steelers franchise QB's Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger will go down as two of the best to ever play the game of football.
The NFL was different back then, with fewer short and easy completions, which explains Bradshaw's lower completion percentage compared to Roethlisberger.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger And Terry Bradshaw Both On Mount Rushmore
Roethlisberger was a risk-taker and excelled at throwing the deep ball. Deciding between the two is difficult, and either choice is understandable. Both quarterbacks boast impressive accolades. While both belong on the Steelers' Mount Rushmore, Valentino ultimately considers Roethlisberger the greatest quarterback in the franchise's history.
There is no right or wrong answer. Both quarterbacks have immense value to the organization and are a key reason the Steelers are considered one of the greatest NFL franchises in history.
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