Editor’s note: As part of NFL’s Greatest Quarterback, fans will decide the best QB in each team’s history.
Terry Bradshaw: Bradshaw and Joe Montana are the only quarterbacks in NFL history with four Super Bowl rings. Bradshaw led his 1970s Steelers to Super Bowls IX, X, XIII and XIV, winning them all.
He was the No. 1 overall pick out of Louisiana Tech in 1970, and he shared the starting role in his first season with Terry Hanratty. Bradshaw was 107-51 in his 14-year career with Pittsburgh. In 19 career postseason games, Bradshaw had 3,833 yards, 30 touchdowns and 26 interceptions.
Neil O’Donnell: O’Donnell is the only Steelers quarterback not named Terry Bradshaw or Ben Roethlisberger to lead the Steelers to the Super Bowl. The Steelers lost to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX 27-17.
O’Donnell went 28-for-49 with 239 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in that game. He signed with the Jets following the Super Bowl.
O’Donnell led the Steelers to the playoffs in all four seasons in which he was the primary starter. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1992 when he completed 59.1 percent of his passes with 2,283 yards and 13 touchdowns in 12 games.
Kordell Stewart: The man they call “Slash” was drafted No. 60 overall in the 1995 draft. Stewart started his career mostly as a wide receiver, catching 41 passes for 658 yards and five touchdowns early in his career.
He’s one of the best running quarterbacks in NFL history, gaining 2,874 yards and 38 touchdowns in his 11-year career. Stewart led the Steelers to the playoffs in 1997 and 2001, where he struggled, completing just 48.6 percent of his passes while throwing two touchdowns to eight interceptions. Stewart was replaced as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback by Tommy Maddox after struggling to start the 2002 season.
Ben Roethlisberger: Roethlisberger has been one of the toughest players in the NFL during his nine-year career. He has led his team to the playoffs in six of those seasons, winning Super Bowl XL and XLIII and losing Super Bowl XLV to the Packers.
“Big Ben” went 13-0 as a rookie in 2004, and has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the NFL during his career. The Steelers are 87-39 with Roethlisberger under center. Roethlisberger may not get the same honors as his peers like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers, but he’s truly an “elite” quarterback due to his clutch play and impressive postseason resume.
