Is QB Ben Roethlisberger a Hall of Famer?

[hawaiiansteel]

Is Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger a Hall of Famer?

by Robert Cerjanec



While there is little debate amongst those in the football world that Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is a very good (or great) quarterback, there remains much discussion as to whether ‘Big Ben’ is Hall of Fame worthy.

Of course, Roethlisberger’s full career story has yet to be written, although Steelers fans certainly hope that the 32 year-old can add another Super Bowl or two to the Steelers trophy case.

But let’s assume for a moment that the Steelers DON’T win another Super Bowl during Roethlisberger’s tenure and that he plays another five seasons or so at his current level.

Would that be enough to get him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Or does he need another Super Bowl title to guarantee a bust in Canton?

When reflecting on Roethlisberger’s career and impact as a starting quarterback, it’s best to go back to the beginning.

The Steelers drafted the 6-5 quarterback out of Miami (Ohio) in 2004, with the intention of grooming him for a season or two behind then starter Tommy Maddox. Unfortunately for Maddox (but fortunately for the Steelers, it turns out), he was injured in Pittsburgh’s Week 2 loss against the Ravens in Baltimore and replaced by Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger and the Steelers would never look back, as the Big Ben era in Pittsburgh officially began. He would go on to shatter several rookie quarterback records in leading the team to a 15-1 record, including: most regular-season wins to start a career (13), highest regular season passer rating (98.1) and highest regular season completion percentage (66.4%).

Although the Steelers fell short of the Super Bowl that season when they lost to the New England Patriots at home in the AFC Championship Game, Roethlisberger took home NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, becoming the first quarterback to win the award in 34 years (Dennis Shaw, Buffalo Bills).

The following season, Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl (23), when he led the black and gold to their fifth title. He would lead the Steelers to another Super Bowl victory in 2008 and another Super Bowl appearance in 2010 (the Steelers third Super Bowl appearance in just six seasons).

Through his ten-year career in the NFL, Roethlisberger has managed to put together some impressive personal numbers to go along with his team’s success. His 95 career wins are good for 17th all time, and he should be nipping at former Steelers legend Terry Bradshaw’s heels for 10th place by the end of the upcoming season (107 wins). Roethlisberger’s career wins total ranks fourth amongst active QB’s, behind only Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. His .669 regular season winning percentage is the sixth highest of all-time and he is even more impressive in the playoffs, boasting a .714 percentage.

It doesn’t stop there. Roethlisberger has been one of the most efficient signal callers in league history. He currently ranks 9th all-time in NFL passer rating (92.6), 9th in yards per attempt (7.85) and 12th in completion percentage (63.3%) amongst quarterbacks with a minimum of 100 starts. Big Ben is also the Steelers record holder for most career passing yards (34,105), most career passing touchdowns (219), most passing yards in a game (503), most passing touchdowns in a game (5), shared with Bradshaw and Mark Malone) and most touchdowns in a season (32).

When comparing Roethlisberger to quarterbacks currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he stacks up favorably. Former Oakland Raider Jim Plunkett is the only quarterback with multiple Super Bowl victories that isn’t enshrined in Canton. All quarterbacks with more than 100 wins are in the Hall of Fame – with the exception of Brady, Manning, Brees and Brett Favre – whom are all virtual locks for induction.

Another Super Bowl title (perhaps to go along with a Super Bowl MVP), would vault Roethlisberger to the front of the line, but is not necessary for Hall of Fame induction. The next steps in Roethlisberger strengthening his Hall of Fame resume appear to be reaching 100 career wins, 40,000 career passing yards and 250 career passing touchdowns – all of which should be easily obtainable for him as early as two seasons from now.

The question shouldn’t be whether or not Roethlisberger needs another Super Bowl title to get into the Hall of Fame – he should be a lock – but whether or not another Super Bowl would make him a first ballot inductee.

Ben Roethlisberger is a Hall of Famer, period.

[URL]http://nicepickcowher.com/2014/06/22/pittsburgh-steelers-qb-ben-roethlisberger-hall-famer/[/URL]

[Shawn]

Ben is a game manager and was a beneficiary of playing with great Ds.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Ben is a game manager and was a beneficiary of playing with great Ds.

Tom Brady won 3 Super Bowls as a game manager who was a beneficiary of playing with great Ds.

When New England's defense deteriorated and Brady morphed from a game manager to an "elite" QB who fantasy nerds love, he's won jack squat.

Last year, Russell Wilson was a game manager who was a beneficiary of playing with a great D. His team embarrassed the elite-level fantasy-stud QB in the Super Bowl.

Give me a QB who is a game manager that is a beneficiary of playing with a great D any day of the week (Sunday in particular).

[Shawn]

I think I was a little too subtle with my sarcasm. Probably should have thrown in a smiley.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I think I was a little too subtle with my sarcasm. Probably should have thrown in a smiley.

I don't consider the "game manager" moniker to be an insult toward QB's, though.

Terry Bradshaw was also a game manager and was a beneficiary of playing with great Ds. He's in the Hall of Fame.

Much rather have a guy who does whatever it takes to win, even if his stats aren't shiny, than a stat accumulator who chokes when then heat is on.

[Shawn]

I hear ya. I am one of Ben's biggest apologists. I have debated numerous Pats fans who use the game manager slur in reference to Ben.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I hear ya. I am one of Ben's biggest apologists. I have debated numerous Pats fans who use the game manager slur in reference to Ben.

Explain to them that their team was much better when their QB was a game manager.

Early in Brady's career, he would throw for:

18 TD, 12 INT
28 TD, 14 INT
23 TD, 12 INT
28 TD, 14 INT
26 TD, 14 INT
24 TD, 12 INT

Solid, pedestrian, game-manager type numbers. And they were winning Super Bowls. Sure, a great defense helped (and knowing the other teams plays probably contributed a bit as well). But as soon as the switch went off and Brady threw for 50 TD, 8 INT and started dating supermodels...no more rings. Game managers win Super Bowls. "Elite" quarterbacks win Pro Bowls.

[BURGH86STEEL]

At the end of the day all QB's are game managers. Some manage the game or offenses better than others.

At this point, I don't believe that Ben is a HOF QB. 2 reasons are Ben hasn't been able to carry this team consistently when necessary(without a top 5 ppg defense) and he hasn't lead a top flight offense. Ben will probably need to win another SB or improve his individual statistical performances to make it into the HOF. Only time will tell.

[Shawn]

At the end of the day all QB's are game managers. Some manage the game or offenses better than others.

At this point, I don't believe that Ben is a HOF QB. 2 reasons are Ben hasn't been able to carry this team consistently when necessary(without a top 5 ppg defense) and he hasn't lead a top flight offense. Ben will probably need to win another SB or improve his individual statistical performances to make it into the HOF. Only time will tell.

The debate isn't whether he is a HoF QB, he certainly is by anyone but the most skeptical of Ben haters. The debate is he first ballot HoFr. The author spelled out quite well why he is a HoF QB. But, I would agree he needs another SB to be first ballot.

[8467thekraken]

At the moment he isn't a first ballot candidate, but I believe when it is all said and done, he will be.

And no cheating involved, either.

[skyhawk]

Boy I sure get tired of the debate by those outside Steeler Nation (and many in it).

The Steelers, EVEN with great D's, do not make it to 3 Super Bowls without Big Ben. He changed the tide of this franchise when he stepped on the field in 2004. He had mojo we will all remember forever. I mean who has TURNED the fortunes of a franchise more than Big Ben in Steelers history? Yes, Joe Greene. That speaks volumes.

But with todays FF nerds, anti-Steelers bias in the HOF voters and fans, his "trouble" off the field, he will not be a first ballot. And he will have a tough time making it at all unless he makes more playoff runs and perhaps makes it to a FOURTH Super Bowl. Shame it has to be that way.

[buccoray61]

Boy I sure get tired of the debate by those outside Steeler Nation (and many in it).

The Steelers, EVEN with great D's, do not make it to 3 Super Bowls without Big Ben. He changed the tide of this franchise when he stepped on the field in 2004. He had mojo we will all remember forever. I mean who has TURNED the fortunes of a franchise more than Big Ben in Steelers history? Yes, Joe Greene. That speaks volumes.

But with todays FF nerds, anti-Steelers bias in the HOF voters and fans, his "trouble" off the field, he will not be a first ballot. And he will have a tough time making it at all unless he makes more playoff runs and perhaps makes it to a FOURTH Super Bowl. Shame it has to be that way.

I agree 100% with every thing you said. I'll add that if the Steelers had Ben in his prime in the 90's,they would have won 2-3 Super Bowls then.

[skyhawk]

I agree 100% with every thing you said. I'll add that if the Steelers had Ben in his prime in the 90's,they would have won 2-3 Super Bowls then.

Yep. The only reason they made it, finally, to SB in 1995 was NOD's playmaking (and Willie Williams shoestring tackle to stop the Colts from running out the clock on 3rd down in the AFCC) in the crunch in the playoffs and the second half of the season after starting 3-4. If it were Ben they could have won it all. And others.

Add to all this, another fact of Ben that was just posted.

[URL="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-nfl-features-news-blog/2014/6/24/5839774/steelers-ben-roethlisberger-contract-extension-talks-rumors-2014"]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com...ks-rumors-2014[/URL]

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

While I know that the conversation is considered to be a bit of a slap in the face by many fans, we need a bit of perspective first. In the modern era, there have only been 23 QBs inducted into the HOF - [url]http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/positions.aspx[/url]

There are not as many inducted as you'd think. So, here is a little comparison in going by decades...

1970's

Bradshaw
Griese
Staubach
Tarkenton ('60's-'70's)
Fouts ('70's-'80's)

1980's

Fouts
Elway
Marino
Montana
Moon

1990's

Kelly
Aikman
Young

Not saying that Ben doesn't belong, just saying that it seems to be extremely tough for an NFL QB to get in.

[RuthlessBurgher]

While I know that the conversation is considered to be a bit of a slap in the face by many fans, we need a bit of perspective first. In the modern era, there have only been 23 QBs inducted into the HOF - [URL]http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/positions.aspx[/URL]

There are not as many inducted as you'd think. So, here is a little comparison in going by decades...

1970's

Bradshaw
Griese
Staubach
Tarkenton ('60's-'70's)
Fouts ('70's-'80's)

1980's

Fouts
Elway
Marino
Montana
Moon

1990's

Kelly
Aikman
Young

Not saying that Ben doesn't belong, just saying that it seems to be extremely tough for an NFL QB to get in.

For the most part, those are the guys who won Super Bowls (multiple SB's in many cases, with ringless outliers like Tarkenton, Fouts, Marino, Moon, and Kelly). There are many single Super Bowl winners who are certainly not worthy (like Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Mark Rypien, Jeff Hostetler, etc.) but the only multiple SB-winning QB not to get inducted is Jim Plunkett. We'll see if Ben and Eli join Plunkett or join Canton.