Steelers top 30 moments in franchise history
By Kim Myers
Ben goes off
Nov 15, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) celebrates a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during the second half at Heinz Field. The Steelers won the game, 30-9. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Terry Bradshaw remained the Steelers passing leader for many years, until Ben Roethlisberger came along. The Steelers didn’t draft another quarterback in the first round of the NFL draft until 2004 after a 6-10 campaign left them with the eleventh pick in the draft.
With Eli Manning and Philip Rivers being dealt to the Giants and Chargers and the Browns passing up on the Ohio native, the Steelers snatched up Roethlisberger with the 11th pick out of Miami University. Like Bradshaw before him Roethlisberger has had to prove himself worthy of being called an “elite” quarterback and not just benefitting from a team with a great defense and strong running game.
In 2014 the Steelers had a very strong running game but not a great defense and Ben Roethlisberger had his greatest statistical season of his career, reaffirming what Steelers fans already knew, that he is certainly elite.
Roethlisberger set an NFL record in November of 2014 when he threw for six touchdowns in back-to-back games. On October 26, 2014 Roethlisberger threw 522 yards and six touchdowns in a 51-34 win over the Indianapolis Colts. He topped that by going out the very next week against the Baltimore Ravens and threw another six touchdowns going 25-of-37 for 340 yards in a 43-23 win.
Roethlisberger now owns all of the Steelers’ passing records and is just two Super Bowls away from tying Bradshaw in another category for the Steelers.
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