Is Ben Roethlisberger a Hall of Famer? At least some NFL fans are convinced his status is a little conflated.
Roethlisberger will make the Hall of Fame, especially considering his two Super Bowls and countless Steelers franchise records. Yet, is his status among the game’s elite at least a little bit due to the team he plays for? Let’s diagnose this (probably wrong) fan theory.
“In my other thread, it seems people don’t think Russell Wilson is a HOFer. But a QB who is much older than him also lacks similar accolades. This is along with Wilson not being the reprehensible scumbag that Roethlisberger is. Wilson has more pro bowls at age 31 than Ben has his whole career. Roethlisberger was often injured, rarely completing a full 16 game season. Why the hell is Roethlisberger going to HOF?”
So, first off, Wilson is probably a Hall of Famer in his own right. Sure, he’s only 32 and has plenty left to accomplish before we can simply bestow that honor upon him, but we’re not talking about Joe Flacco here.
Why is Ben Roethlisberger a Hall of Famer?
Roethlisberger played in a different era of quarterback, slowly turning Pittsburgh from a run-first behemoth into a formidable passing threat. Given how the 2021 season ended, it’s easy to overreact, and it surely won’t be on Roethlisberger’s behalf.
Big Ben led the Steelers on two Super Bowl runs, and had them in playoff contention essentially every season he was under center. His numbers stack up against the league leaders during his prime (which include Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady), and while he never made first-team All Pro, neither did the likes of Troy Aikman or Warren Moon. Are they Hall-of-Fame talents? Of course.
The unceremonious end to Roethlisberger’s career should not blind us from the player he once was.
