On his podcast Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, the former Pittsburgh Steelers gunslinger shared his insights into the top seven quarterback performances of the 2024 NFL season. Roethlisberger, widely regarded as the last successful quarterback in Steelers history, has set a high bar for the position in Pittsburgh.
Since his retirement, the franchise has been searching for a player to fill his shoes, making Roethlisberger’s perspective particularly valuable. His analysis reflects what the standard at quarterback should emulate in Pittsburgh and what the city hopes to see.
As Roethlisberger introduced his list, he clarified that the rankings weren’t based purely on statistics, but on overall performance.
“Okay. So this list is tricky because it’s this year," Roethlisberger said on the podcast. "It’s not who do I think is the best quarterback in the NFL, or who do I think played the best this year. Doesn’t necessarily mean they had the best stats. Maybe they led their team to victories. Maybe they won a lot of games.”
This perspective highlights Roethlisberger’s emphasis on winning and making plays that matter when it counts, something that fans in Pittsburgh have always expected from their quarterbacks. Roethlisberger's quarterback rankings are as follows:
Ben Roethlisberger's top quarterbacks from 2024 season:
- Lamar Jackson
- Joe Burrow
- Josh Allen
- Patrick Mahomes
- Jared Goff
- Sam Darnold
- Justin Herbert
Six quarterbacks Roethlisberger ranked played pivotal roles for teams that clinched playoff spots this season, demonstrating that performance on the field is a critical element of success.
Also, what stands out even more is that all but one of them—Josh Allen—ranked within the top 10 in passing yards during the regular season. Jackson, Burrow, Mahomes, Allen, and Herbert all threw for significant yardage, showcasing their ability to manage the game and to produce through the air.
Roethlisberger does not show Steelers QB love in rankings
However, one notable absence from Roethlisberger’s list is Russell Wilson. Despite not cracking the top seven, Wilson’s name has been circulating in discussions about the quarterback position in Pittsburgh, particularly with the Steelers facing an uncertain future under center.
Wilson finished the season ranked 22nd in passing yards (2,482), a far cry from the elite performances that Roethlisberger deemed worthy of his ranking. While Wilson’s play has shown flashes of his former self, it has largely been inconsistent throughout the year.
Wilson's efforts have not matched the caliber of leadership or production demonstrated by the quarterbacks Roethlisberger highlighted, signaling that Pittsburgh might need more than what Wilson has been able to provide.
The Steelers face a win-or-go-home scenario in their Wild Card matchup against the Ravens. If Wilson hopes to lead Pittsburgh to victory, he must channel the same performances that made quarterbacks like Jackson, Burrow, and Mahomes stand out in Roethlisberger’s eyes.
Wilson must rise to the occasion, just as the quarterbacks Roethlisberger ranked. For Pittsburgh, the hope is that Wilson can emulate the success of these elite quarterbacks in what will be a crucial playoff battle.