The Pittsburgh Steelers fan base will always hold quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in a very special light. The QB played for nearly two decades in the Steel City and helped the franchise capture Super Bowl titles five and six. Over 249 career starts, Roethlisberger won 165 games, completed 64.4 percent of his passes, and threw for 64,088 yards and 418 touchdowns. His toughness, leadership, and ability to deliver in clutch moments made him a Pittsburgh icon and one of the most accomplished signal-callers of his era.
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Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger gets hit during a game against the Eagles.
Despite all of his success, former NFL running back and Pittsburgh Panthers legend LeSean McCoy had some strong criticism for Roethlisberger during an appearance on FS1’s The Facility on Friday. McCoy, who faced Roethlisberger during his playing days, questioned the quarterback’s consistency and leadership. He suggested that Roethlisberger is not in a spot to give strong opinions on elite quarterback play.
McCoy’s comments quickly sparked a wave of reaction from fans and media alike. Many Steelers supporters came to Roethlisberger’s defense, pointing to his two Super Bowl rings, countless comeback victories, and leadership throughout nearly two decades with the team. While opinions on Roethlisberger’s personality may differ, his production and lasting impact on the Steelers' franchise are undeniable.
"Big Ben hates," McCoy said Friday. "One thing about Big Ben, you play 18 years, you have no All-Pros, not one, not one First Team, not one Second Team. This is just me, I don't respect players that talk about greats a certain way and you have nowhere the type of success they had. You played for 18 years, and you never was considered the best quarterback or the second-best quarterback in football."
Roethlisberger recently shared his thoughts on his podcast Footbahlin, saying he would take prime Aaron Rodgers over prime Patrick Mahomes. While he made it clear that this was just his personal opinion, the comment didn’t sit well with McCoy. The former running back used it as fuel to sound off on Roethlisberger during his appearance on the show.
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Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger smiles during a practice.
McCoy seemed genuinely irritated that Roethlisberger felt comfortable making such a comparison, implying that the former Steelers quarterback wasn’t qualified to weigh in on a debate involving two of the most gifted quarterbacks of all time. His reaction suggested that he didn’t believe Roethlisberger had earned the right to insert himself into that kind of conversation.
"I would take Aaron in his prime over Patrick now," Roethlisberger said recently on his podcast. "I think Aaron Rodgers, in his prime, was one of the top few to ever do it. So is Patrick Mahomes in his prime. Patrick Mahomes is just entering out of his prime. I think Patrick Mahomes is going to go down as another arguable GOAT."
That stance from McCoy left many confused. Roethlisberger is a two-time Super Bowl champion with a Hall of Fame résumé and nearly two decades of NFL experience. To say he isn’t in a position to have an opinion on elite quarterback play doesn’t really hold up. Whether people agree with his take or not, Roethlisberger is more than qualified to weigh in.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Made A Fair Point
When watching Roethlisberger deliver his take on the podcast, it was clear what he was saying. He was simply highlighting how great and impressive prime Rodgers was. There’s nothing wrong with doing that, and he wasn’t taking anything away from Mahomes’ greatness either.
Roethlisberger clearly stated that Mahomes is also a legitimate contender for the greatest of all time, but he’s certainly allowed to have a strong opinion on elite quarterbacks and how they played in their prime. When you’ve accomplished what Roethlisberger has in your career, you’ve more than earned the right to share that perspective.
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Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger meets with former Packers QB Aaron Rodgers before a home game.
In fact, many could argue that McCoy’s strong opinion on Roethlisberger was not only unnecessary but also off base. If anyone is qualified to talk about all-time great quarterback play, it’s a two-time Super Bowl champion with nearly 65,000 passing yards and almost two decades of experience under center.
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