Steelers Great GM Kevin Colbert Detailed Private Conversation That Led To Selecting Ben Roethlisberger In 2004

The Pittsburgh Steelers changed the trajectory of the organization back in 2004 when the franchise selected Ben Roethlisberger with the 11th overall pick in the NFL Draft. The franchise was desperate for a true franchise quarterback, and Roethlisberger turned into exactly that. He was one of the best signal-callers in the league throughout his career, and he won two Super Bowls while leading the team to three appearances. The Steelers were one of the best teams in the league during his time in the pros, and that all could have been different had the franchise decided to go in a different direction on draft night.

Tommy Maddox had been the starter in the Steel City during the 2003 season. He sufficed, but there was certainly more to be desired as he threw almost as many interceptions as he did touchdowns. Quarterback was on the table for the Steelers entering the 2004 NFL Draft, and that is a big reason that Maddox negotiated for more money before the draft began. Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, and Philip Rivers highlighted the quarterback class that year, and the Steelers were hoping one would fall to them at 11. 

Former general manager Kevin Colbert recently spoke about this situation during an appearance on the podcast Inside The Game. He was asked about how the Steelers wound up drafting Roethlisberger, and he shared a conversation with former head coach Bill Cowher that led to the decision.

"We knew there were three special quarterbacks in Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Ben, and we were picking 11th," Colbert said. "We never thought Ben would make it down to us. As we went through the draft preparation, we talked through all the scenarios and never once did we think Ben was going to be there. I'll never forget, Coach Cowher made the point, because we were coming off of a season where Tommy Maddox was doing some good things for us. But Coach Cowher said, 'Listen, if a great quarterback like Ben gets to us, for the good of the organization, we have to take him.'"

Colbert spoke about how the franchise didn't mind what Maddox had contributed in 2003, and that he had fully recovered from his previous neck injury. It was almost as if the Steelers were moving towards not drafting a quarterback, but Cowher spoke with some reason and changed the course of the next 20 or so years for football in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers did not plan on starting Roethlisberger right away. Maddox would be the starter to begin the 2004 season, and maybe Roethlisberger would get in at some point. That point came along much sooner than expected as Maddox went down with an injury against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 of the 2004 season. Roethlisberger had to fill in, and the rest is history.

The Steelers would go on to win 13 consecutive games with Roethlisberger as the team's starting quarterback, and in 2005, the young gunslinger led the organization to its fifth Lombardi Trophy. He is one of the most successful quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, yet he could have been wearing a different uniform.

Steelers Legend Ben Roethlisberger Still Gets Overshadowed

Roethlisberger's greatness cannot be denied, although he does live in the shadow of some other great quarterbacks. There seems to be a consensus agreement that he was the best quarterback from that 2004 draft class, but some older quarterbacks that played for a long time often stole the spotlight. This includes the likes of Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady. 

Roethlisberger is still near the top of all of the record books when it comes to quarterback play. There are some things that he has done at the position that no one else has ever been able to, yet it still feels like he doesn't get the respect that he deserves.

What do you think about this story from Colbert? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!

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