The Pittsburgh Steelers' offense was in exciting hands when Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger were in town. Arians served as the Steelers’ coordinator from 2007 to 2011, a period marked by explosive offensive performances and memorable moments. Most notably, he was calling the plays when Roethlisberger led the team on a 92-yard drive to secure a thrilling victory in Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals. Their chemistry and execution during those years set the tone for one of the most dynamic Steelers offenses of the modern era.
Peter Diana / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A young Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger and former offensive coordinator, Bruce Arians, stand next to one another during a team practice.
When Arians appeared on The Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, he made a candid and surprising confession that underscores just how highly he thinks of Roethlisberger. Despite having coached some of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, including Tom Brady, with whom Arians also won a Super Bowl, he revealed a preference that shocked many fans and pundits alike. His remarks provided a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the respect and trust he had for Roethlisberger’s abilities in high-pressure situations.
Arians emphasized that, in his mind, Roethlisberger is the quarterback he would choose in the most critical games. While Brady is often lauded for his career-long consistency and championships, Arians highlighted Roethlisberger’s unique combination of size, toughness, and playmaking ability that made him nearly impossible to stop when the stakes were highest. This glowing endorsement from a coach who has worked with some of the NFL’s elite talent speaks volumes about Roethlisberger’s legacy and his standing among the very best in the game.
"In the big games, I will take him [Ben Roethlisberger] over all of them," Arians told Pat McAfee on Tuesday. "All of them. He’s the only one that I had that needed to go 92 yards to win the Super Bowl and he won."
When Arians made this comment on the show, the entire panel, including Pat McAfee, was visibly stunned. They likely immediately thought of Brady and wondered how anyone could pick Roethlisberger over a quarterback often regarded as the greatest of all time. This is not a knock on Roethlisberger, who had a remarkable career, but Brady has won an astonishing seven Super Bowls, setting a standard no one can even approach.
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Legendary quarterbacks Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger meet after the 2016 AFC Championship.
For context, the Steelers as an organization have claimed six Super Bowl titles, which is impressive, yet Brady alone has more championships than an entire franchise. Roethlisberger, by comparison, won two, but many analysts and fans believe that if he had not repeatedly crossed paths with Brady in critical games, he might have added a few more rings to his résumé as well.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Did Get Beat Out By Tom Brady
Football is a team sport, so it is not entirely fair to place all the wins and losses on Roethlisberger. However, anyone who follows the game closely understands that the quarterback carries the ultimate responsibility in this league. Over his career, Roethlisberger faced Brady 10 times in the regular season, compiling a 3-7 record, and he was 0-2 against Brady in the playoffs. Those numbers illustrate the challenge of going up against one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
Associated Press
Steelers legendary quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throws the football in the Super Bowl against the Arizona Cardinals.
Despite those statistics, Arians revealed that he would still choose Roethlisberger over Brady or any other quarterback he has coached in the most important games. His main reason centers on how Roethlisberger managed the final, game-winning drive in Super Bowl XLIII against the Cardinals.
Arians highlighted that ability to perform under pressure, remain calm, and execute flawlessly in the biggest moments as what sets Roethlisberger apart. It is that clutch mentality and poise in critical situations that makes Arians value him so highly, even above other legendary quarterbacks. Still, many assume Brady would have been his choice.
Do you agree with Bruce Arians' statement that Roethlisberger is the most clutch quarterback he has ever had? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments below! Please feel free to share your Steelers takes with me on X @anthonyghalkias and follow me.
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