The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. Originally, the team intended for Roethlisberger to sit behind veteran Tommy Maddox, giving him time to learn the ropes before stepping onto the field. However, when Maddox suffered a severe elbow injury early in the season, Roethlisberger was thrust into action. The rookie exceeded expectations, performing so well that he never relinquished the starting role, eventually becoming a franchise cornerstone for the Steelers.
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Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger stands beside Tommy Maddox during an away game.
Recently, on his podcast Footbahlin, Roethlisberger discussed the Steelers’ 26-18 victory over the New York Giants. Roethlisberger praised the team’s overall performance, particularly noting the resilience shown by both the offense and defense.
The conversation soon shifted to the current quarterback room, particularly focusing on Justin Fields and Russell Wilson. Roethlisberger expressed his belief in the value of learning from experienced players like Wilson, emphasizing that Fields could benefit greatly from observing Wilson’s approach.
"Listen, I have always thought it’s important for a guy to sit for a couple of years in this league and learn behind a veteran," Roethlisberger said. "Teams sometimes don’t have the ability to do that… I think a guy right now in the league that is in my opinion is still underrated that I really like, I liked him coming out of college and I think he benefited from sitting behind someone is Jordan Love. I would argue that he might be in my top five quarterbacks right now."
Roethlisberger noted that, in his opinion, Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is already among the best in the league. He believes Love has benefited tremendously from not being rushed into action, allowing him time to develop behind the scenes.
Matthew Sunday
Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger (#7) and Mason Rudolph (#2) stand on the field during training camp.
Roethlisberger went on to explain that sometimes fate has its own plans, as was the case in his own career.
"Obviously, some situations like mine, there’s nothing you can do when guys get injured," Roethlisberger continued.
When asked if he would have been open to not starting right away, Roethlisberger shared that he actually would have preferred it—that was the original plan.
Maddox’s injury, however, changed everything, thrusting him into the starting role. Roethlisberger had such an impressive rookie season that he never turned the job back in.
"I mean, I was coming in to do it to learn," Roethlisberger said. "The game is so much faster and so much different than the college game. Especially coming from the MAC [Mid-American Conference], I wouldn’t have had a problem learning it, but I got thrown in and we had to go."
Roethlisberger finished his 2004 rookie season with an impressive 98.1 passer rating, throwing for 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions over 14 games. His performance earned him the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
While his career turned out exceptionally well, Roethlisberger admitted he wouldn’t have minded spending more time learning as a backup before stepping into the starting role.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Gives Advice To Justin Fields
According to Roethlisberger, having a veteran presence can be invaluable for young quarterbacks, as it allows them to develop skills and make adjustments without the pressure of shouldering the entire offense. He encouraged Fields to use the rest of the 2024 season as an opportunity to grow, reinforcing that learning on the field and from the sidelines can create long-term success.
AP
Steelers' Russell Wilson talks to Justin Fields during a game.
Fields performed well, but Wilson has also done an impressive job. The offense appears more in control with Wilson at the helm, and the coaching staff clearly has greater trust in his experience. This setup gives Fields valuable time to learn and potentially position himself as the franchise’s future quarterback in Pittsburgh, assuming everything aligns as hoped for all parties involved.
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