Some say Terry Bradshaw’s Super Bowl rings gives him an advantage over Ben Roethlisberger, but the truth is, Big Ben has surpassed Bradshaw as the greatest Steelers quarterback, and he’s continuing to separate himself.
Two Super Bowls, six Pro Bowls and some of the meanest football played by a quarterback. That’s what Roethlisberger has done with his time in Pittsburgh. But it isn’t the accolades that make him one of the best.
There has never been a quarterback as tough as Big Ben. Yes, quarterbacks in the ’70s and ’80s faced football teams much scarier than those of today, true. But they weren’t able to play as tough as Roethlisberger does.
Throughout his career, he’s taken some of the meanest hits of his era and bounced back up to throw a touchdown or lead a drive. No one could take this man down, no matter how they hit him.
It’s what he’ll always be remembered for, and it’s what separates him from the rest of the league. For 15 seasons and counting, Roethlisberger has been a top-five passer in the NFL. He shows little signs of slowing down, and because of it, he’s one of the greats in a franchise filled with loads of history.