Pittsburgh Steelers legendary quarterback Ben Roethlisberger helped lead the franchise to two Super Bowl titles during his time in the Steel City. While Roethlisberger had a Hall of Fame career, winning multiple championships and putting up historic numbers, he still often finds himself disrespected by media figures and NFL pundits. The latest example came from former NFL General Manager Mike Tannenbaum, who delivered a hot take on ESPN’s First Take that had Steelers fans shaking their heads.

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Steelers' legendary quarterback Ben Roethlisberger flashes a confident smile while taking part in a practice session, reflecting the leadership and poise that defined his storied career in Pittsburgh.
Tannenbaum claimed that Joe Burrow, Jordan Love, Justin Herbert and Jalen Hurts will all end up having better careers than Roethlisberger. It’s the kind of statement that grabs attention, but also raises serious questions. While all four quarterbacks have shown promise and flashes of greatness, none of them have sustained long-term success or achieved what Roethlisberger did during his 18 seasons in the league.
Roethlisberger was more than just a durable quarterback. He was one of the toughest and most clutch players of his era. He delivered in critical moments, played through injuries and consistently kept the Steelers competitive. Comparing that to players who are still in the early stages of their careers feels premature and unfair. Until they prove they can reach that level of consistency and success, Roethlisberger's legacy should remain untouchable.
"I look at more from a GM perspective of if we were drafting them," Tannenbaum said. "I'll give you Eli Manning in '04, but if Ben Roethlisberger was in a group with Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, and Jordan Love, I'm not sure I'm taking Ben over any of those guys. And that's where I think '04 is a little top heavy."
Tannenbaum was an NFL general manager and has worked in sports since 1991. Despite that experience, it's still a little unfair to say you'd take those quarterbacks over Roethlisberger this early in their careers.

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Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger holds up his jersey as he gets picked by Pittsburgh in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Hurts has won a Super Bowl, but the others have not and may very well never win one. Even if they do, it would still take a lot to catch up to Roethlisberger's legacy.
"When I look at these guys, I'm hard pressed to think that at the end of the day, they won't have similar, if not better, careers then Ben," Tannenbaum said. "I'm just saying Joe Burrow has a much [better], in my opinion, has a chance to have a better career than Ben Roethlisberger."
Perhaps the most surprising name on Tannenbaum’s list of quarterbacks likely to have a better career than Roethlisberger is Love. While Love has had a strong start and shown flashes of potential, he still has plenty of doubters and hasn't proven himself over time.
Hurts, despite leading his team to a Super Bowl victory, continues to be unfairly labeled as a "system quarterback," which undermines his individual talent and leadership. But still, passing Roethlisberger’s legacy will take much more than just one Super Bowl win.
Steelers' Rival Joe Burrow Could Eventually Surpass Ben Roethlisberger
Herbert has put up impressive stats and clearly possesses elite-level potential, but he has yet to win anything meaningful in the postseason. Until he does, it’s hard to place him ahead of someone with Roethlisberger’s resume. Burrow might be the one quarterback on the list with a legitimate chance to surpass Roethlisberger when it’s all said and done. He’s been to a Super Bowl, has elite numbers, and plays with poise.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow talks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Arlington, Texas.
Still, just because Burrow is on the right track doesn’t mean he should be guaranteed a place above Roethlisberger. Statistically, he may eventually surpass Roethlisberger in some categories, but will he win as much? Can he maintain this level of performance for as long as Roethlisberger did across 18 seasons? That remains to be seen.
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