The Pittsburgh Steelers franchise has a storied history of winning.
Part of the legacy is related to its Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
Terry Bradshaw is a Hall of Famer, and Ben Roethlisberger will be one when he retires.
Here are 3 reasons why he will be elected to the HOF.
1. Longevity
Big Ben is 38 years old and just completed his 17th NFL season.
He has started in 231 career regular season games, and he possesses a 156-74-1 record.
Roethlisberger has thrown for over 60,300 yards in his career with 396 touchdowns and 201 interceptions.
He has shown tremendous leadership and loyalty for the only organization he has ever played for.
His love for Pittsburgh is evident; he once said.
“I want the fans and the people of Pittsburgh to embrace me as a Pittsburgher. I am not the California surfer-type. I love the city and love the people, and hopefully they see me as a blue-collar Pittsburgh guy because that’s how I want to play the game.”
It’s practically impossible to envision him playing for any other team.
Yet approaching his 39th birthday and with a contract that the Steelers could get out of prior to the 2021 season or let run its term until the end of the 2021 season, questions about Ben are starting to loom.
One of Ben’s former teammates, RB Jerome Bettis, shared his thoughts on Ben’s future.
He believes Ben should play one more year, but the Steelers should draft a young quarterback who can be mentored by Ben.
2. Durability
Thankfully Big Ben has size because he has taken his share of hits in his career.
Sacked 516 times in his career, he keeps coming back and performing better.
Never was that more evident than when he suffered the season-ending elbow injury that happened in Week 2 of the 2019 season.
#Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger tells reporters that he tore three flexor tendons off the bone, elbow surgery he believes no QB has ever come back from. Not Tommy John, but somewhat similar and very serious. That he looks and feels this good is impressive.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 4, 2020
After a long recovery, he came back and led the Steelers on an 11-0 run.
Had Alex Smith not been playing in Washington this year, Big Ben would likely have been the NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
In 2020, Ben threw 33 TD passes and 10 interceptions.
Chase Claypool 31 yard TD from Ben Roethlisberger #Steelers pic.twitter.com/xXY8czw2VJ
— BlitzburghUSAVideos (@sdextrasmedia) November 24, 2020
3. A Proven Winner
Roethlisberger has a trophy case of individual and team awards.
Big Ben was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2004.
He is a six-time Pro Bowler and holds the record for the most 500 yard passing games with 4.
Roethlisberger was the NFL passing yards leader in both 2014 and 2018.
Over his career, he has been a rock in the playoffs.
He is a two-time Super Bowl Champion (2005 and 2008 seasons).
In 22 postseason games, he is 13-9.
During the Steelers 2005 march to the Super Bowl Championship, he threw 7 touchdowns in 4 playoff games.
He has thrown for over 5,700 yards in the postseason alone with 34 TD passes.
The question about Ben Roethlisberger’s Hall of Fame eligibility is not if he gets in; it is when he gets in.
His path to enshrinement could go very similarly to Peyton Manning‘s who will go in on the first ballot.
The only question left for Roethlisberger is how much football he has left in him.
Will 2021 be his final season?
NEXT: 3 Moves The Steelers Need To Make In The 2021 Offseason