The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the most successful teams in the history of the NFL. Their legendary squad from the late 1970's is considered one of the most formidable squads the game has ever seen. Today, we’ll be diving into the top three Steelers quarterbacks of all-time, and you will likely recognize them from some of their iconic teams of the past.
SAN DIEGO, CA - DECEMBER 17: Quarterback Terry Bradshaw #12 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs onto the field for the second half during an NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at San Diego Stadium on December 17, 1972 in San Diego, California. The Steelers defeated the Chargers 24-2 (Photo by James Flores /Getty Images)
At the moment, however, they are a far cry from these historic dynasties. The bookmakers have them at astronomical odds to get to the Super Bowl this season. If you’d like to look at who is more likely to put a good run together this season, you can get betting promos online.
The quarterback position is probably the most well-known position in the NFL. It creates superstars and legends who cross over into American sports culture, and they’re usually the players who will take a lot of the limelight if their team is successful.
So, we will start in reverse order – this is a difficult list to compile, but we have given it our best shot.
Bobby Layne
While Layne didn’t exactly achieve his pinnacle at the Steelers, his career was star-studded and his legacy is embedded in the sport. Layne was helped during his stint with the Steelers as he had Jimmy Orr and Buddy Dial, who would complement any quarterback. Both were fantastic receivers in their own right.
Despite being in the twilight of his career, Layne managed to turn the Steelers from a below-average outfit into a team that ended with several winning seasons. Layne’s career stats overall put him on this list for us – he wasn’t at his peak for the Steelers, but his peak was phenomenal. With a multitude of personal and team accolades, Layne earned his place in prestigious Steelers company.
Terry Bradshaw
Bradshaw is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time, not just for the Steelers. To think that he was almost heckled out of the league after a dreadful career start is mind-blowing. Bradshaw went on to achieve legendary feats while wearing the famous black and gold jersey. He also benefited immensely from playing with receivers who were astute and could read the game incredibly well at an elite level.
He was the driving force behind the iconic Steelers team we discussed in our intro. Having lifted four Super Bowl titles with Pittsburgh, he became the first quarterback to lift the trophy on four occasions.
This is reflected in the mountains of accolades he received during his career, which included multiple Pro Bowl appearances, MVP awards and being chosen for the team of the decade. There are some people out there who will make the argument that Bradshaw is the greatest of them all. His recent health struggles have made fans reflect on what a great man he is and a great player he was.
Ben Roethlisberger
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger gets ready for the Baltimore Ravens in Pittsburgh, PA. | Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty Images
This is a debate that is fiercely contested. While the Steelers have had some incredible quarterbacks throughout the years, it was always going to be a straight shootout between Roethlisberger and Bradshaw. Despite Bradshaw playing on the better teams, Roethlisberger has some excellent accolades too. This includes becoming the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl, and a game-winning pass in 2008 to clinch a Super Bowl title for the Steelers.
He has been selected for six Pro Bowls and ranks on the top 10 all-time list for quarterback stats. While Bradshaw spearheaded one of the greatest Steelers teams ever, if Roethlisberger found himself playing for the same squad, they would likely have won the same number of Super Bowls, possibly more.
This isn’t us talking down about Bradshaw. He is a legend of the game and deserves his place as one of the greatest ever in his position. However, despite Roethlisberger recently retiring, history will likely rank him as one of the top quarterbacks of all-time, especially among those of his generation. The likes of Tom Brady will take the plaudits for this generation of quarterbacks, but it is certainly not bad company for Roethlisberger to be in.
Conclusion
The debate that arises among Steelers fans when it comes to Roethlisberger vs Bradshaw is a debate that could go on for hours at a time. Both quarterbacks were Goliaths in their position and displayed incredibly high levels of consistency and quality throughout their careers. However, Roethlisberger just about takes the crown on his one, with Bradshaw in a very close and deserving second place.
