Best Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterbacks of All-Time starts with Ben Roethlisberger, the franchise-record passer who delivered two Super Bowl wins and became the most productive quarterback in Steelers history. Terry Bradshaw ranks second because of his four Super Bowl championships, while Kordell Stewart, Neil O’Donnell and Bobby Layne round out the top five in this Steelers quarterback ranking.
For the full team index, visit our Pittsburgh Steelers all-time leaders and player rankings hub. This ranking is based on team-only impact with the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, not total NFL career value.
How We Ranked the Best Steelers Quarterbacks of All-Time
This ranking looks at each quarterback’s Steelers production, peak performance, playoff impact, championships, longevity, era context and overall importance to Pittsburgh football history.
Only what the quarterback did with the Steelers counts here. That matters for players like Aaron Rodgers, Bobby Layne, Steve Bono and Russell Wilson, who had major NFL chapters with other teams. This is not a total-career quarterback ranking; it is a Steelers-only ranking.
Why This Steelers Quarterback Ranking Is Different
This list is not just a passing yards table. Ben Roethlisberger leads because he owns the franchise passing records, won two Super Bowls and gave Pittsburgh nearly two decades of stability. Terry Bradshaw has the strongest championship case, but the ranking balances rings, production, longevity and era context.
Aaron Rodgers is included because he appears in the graphic and played for Pittsburgh in the current era. His overall NFL résumé is legendary, but this ranking only counts his Steelers chapter, not his Packers or Jets production.
Table of Contents
- How We Ranked the Best Steelers Quarterbacks of All-Time
- Why This Steelers Quarterback Ranking Is Different
- 1. Ben Roethlisberger
- 2. Terry Bradshaw
- 3. Kordell Stewart
- 4. Neil O’Donnell
- 5. Bobby Layne
- 6. Bubby Brister
- 7. Aaron Rodgers
- 8. Tommy Maddox
- 9. Jim Finks
- 10. Mark Malone
- Steelers Quarterbacks Just Outside the Top 10
- Full Ranking Table
- FAQ
- Conclusion
- More Steelers and NFL Rankings
1. Ben Roethlisberger
Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 2004–2021 with Pittsburgh, franchise-record 64,088 passing yards, franchise-record 418 passing touchdowns, 6 Pro Bowls, two Super Bowl championships and 2004 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Ben Roethlisberger is the best Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback of all-time. He owns the franchise passing yards and passing touchdowns records by a massive margin, and he gave Pittsburgh high-level quarterback stability for nearly two decades.
Roethlisberger’s combination of size, toughness, pocket strength and late-play creation made him one of the hardest quarterbacks to bring down. He could extend plays, absorb contact and still deliver big throws downfield.
Terry Bradshaw has the stronger Super Bowl count, but Roethlisberger’s total Steelers résumé — production, longevity, two titles and franchise records — gives him the No. 1 spot here.
2. Terry Bradshaw
Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1970–1983 with Pittsburgh, 27,989 passing yards, 212 passing touchdowns, 1978 NFL MVP, two Super Bowl MVP awards, four Super Bowl championships and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback.
Terry Bradshaw ranks second among the best Steelers quarterbacks of all-time. If the ranking were based only on championships, Bradshaw would be No. 1.
Bradshaw was the quarterback of the Steelers’ 1970s dynasty and delivered in the biggest moments. His arm strength, toughness and playoff performances helped Pittsburgh win four Super Bowls in six seasons.
His regular-season passing numbers came from a very different era, so they cannot be compared directly to modern quarterbacks. His championship impact still makes him one of the greatest players in Steelers history.
3. Kordell Stewart
Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1995–2002 with Pittsburgh, 13,328 passing yards, 70 passing touchdowns, 2,561 rushing yards, 35 rushing touchdowns and one Pro Bowl selection.
Kordell Stewart ranks third because he brought a unique dual-threat style to Pittsburgh before that type of quarterback became common across the NFL.
Known as “Slash,” Stewart could throw, run and create offense in several different ways. His athleticism gave the Steelers a different identity, and his best season helped Pittsburgh reach the AFC Championship Game.
His career had ups and downs, but his total impact as a passer and runner gives him one of the strongest non-Super Bowl quarterback cases in franchise history.
4. Neil O’Donnell
Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1990–1995 with Pittsburgh, 12,867 passing yards, 68 passing touchdowns, one Pro Bowl and one Super Bowl appearance.
Neil O’Donnell ranks fourth in this Steelers quarterback ranking. He was an efficient, low-turnover passer who helped Pittsburgh return to championship contention in the 1990s.
O’Donnell’s strongest years came under Bill Cowher, when the Steelers built a physical team around defense, the run game and controlled passing. He helped lead Pittsburgh to Super Bowl XXX.
The Super Bowl performance is a major part of how fans remember him, but his full Steelers career still deserves credit. O’Donnell helped restore the franchise after the post-Bradshaw transition years.
5. Bobby Layne
Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1958–1962 with Pittsburgh, 9,030 passing yards, 66 passing touchdowns and multiple Pro Bowl/All-Pro-level seasons during his Steelers tenure.
Bobby Layne ranks fifth on this Steelers-only list. His overall NFL legacy is much bigger because of his Detroit Lions years, but his Pittsburgh chapter was still important.
Layne brought veteran toughness and credibility to a Steelers franchise that had not yet become the powerhouse it later became. His production was strong for the era and still keeps him high on franchise passing leaderboards.
He does not rank higher because his greatest team success came elsewhere, but his Steelers years were meaningful enough for the top five.
6. Bubby Brister
Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1986–1992 with Pittsburgh, 10,104 passing yards, 51 passing touchdowns and multiple seasons as Pittsburgh’s primary starter.
Bubby Brister ranks sixth after giving the Steelers a tough, competitive quarterback during a difficult transition period.
Brister played with grit and confidence, often carrying offenses that did not have the same firepower as Pittsburgh’s championship teams. His numbers were not elite, but he provided stability between the Bradshaw era and the Cowher-era quarterbacks.
His place on this list reflects his role as one of the more important Steelers passers of the late 1980s and early 1990s.
7. Aaron Rodgers
Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 2025–present with Pittsburgh, 3,322 passing yards, 24 passing touchdowns and 7 interceptions in his first Steelers season.
Aaron Rodgers ranks seventh because the graphic includes him, but his placement is based only on his Steelers chapter. His overall NFL career is legendary, but Green Bay and New York production do not count for this ranking.
Rodgers gave Pittsburgh a veteran quarterback presence and helped stabilize the offense in his first season with the team. He was not prime Rodgers anymore, but he still brought experience, ball security and high-level pre-snap command.
Because Rodgers is active with Pittsburgh, this ranking can change. If he adds another strong Steelers season, his team-only résumé will become easier to compare with longer-tenured Steelers quarterbacks.
8. Tommy Maddox
Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 2001–2005 with Pittsburgh, 7,139 passing yards, 42 passing touchdowns and 2002 NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
Tommy Maddox ranks eighth after one of the most unexpected quarterback revivals in Steelers history.
Maddox brought life to the passing game in 2002 and won NFL Comeback Player of the Year. His quick release and aggressive style gave Pittsburgh a different offensive look before the Roethlisberger era began.
His peak was short, but it was memorable enough to keep him inside the top 10.
9. Jim Finks
Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1949–1955 with Pittsburgh, 8,622 passing yards and 55 passing touchdowns.
Jim Finks ranks ninth as one of the most important early quarterbacks in Steelers history. His numbers came from a much different passing era, which makes his placement on franchise leaderboards notable.
Finks gave Pittsburgh steady production before the modern NFL passing game existed. He later became even more famous as an executive, but his Steelers playing career still belongs in the franchise quarterback conversation.
He does not have the championship résumé of the top names, but his era-adjusted production earns him a top-10 place.
10. Mark Malone
Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1980–1987 with Pittsburgh, 8,582 passing yards and 54 passing touchdowns.
Mark Malone rounds out the top 10. He had the difficult job of following the Bradshaw dynasty years and playing during a transition period for the franchise.
Malone had moments of strong play and enough production to remain high on the Steelers’ career passing lists. His career never fully became what Pittsburgh hoped, but he was still an important starter during the 1980s.
His placement reflects both his statistical standing and his role in the post-dynasty Steelers era.
Steelers Quarterbacks Just Outside the Top 10
The next Steelers quarterback group includes Ed Brown, Mike Tomczak, Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Russell Wilson, Charlie Batch and Earl Morrall. Ed Brown has a strong statistical argument because he sits near the top 10 in both passing yards and passing touchdowns, while Tomczak gave Pittsburgh veteran stability during the 1990s.
Pickett and Rudolph are more recent names with meaningful Steelers starts, while Wilson’s Pittsburgh chapter was short but notable. Batch matters more as a reliable long-term backup than a franchise-defining starter. None of them crack this graphic-based top 10, but they help fill out the full Steelers quarterback story.
Full Ranking Table: Best Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterbacks of All-Time
Note: This ranking follows the order shown in the graphic and judges quarterbacks by team-only Steelers impact, production, longevity, playoff success and era context.
| Rank | Quarterback | Steelers Years | Passing Yards | Passing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Roethlisberger | 2004–2021 | 64,088 | 418 |
| 2 | Terry Bradshaw | 1970–1983 | 27,989 | 212 |
| 3 | Kordell Stewart | 1995–2002 | 13,328 | 70 |
| 4 | Neil O’Donnell | 1990–1995 | 12,867 | 68 |
| 5 | Bobby Layne | 1958–1962 | 9,030 | 66 |
| 6 | Bubby Brister | 1986–1992 | 10,104 | 51 |
| 7 | Aaron Rodgers | 2025–present | 3,322 | 24 |
| 8 | Tommy Maddox | 2001–2005 | 7,139 | 42 |
| 9 | Jim Finks | 1949–1955 | 8,622 | 55 |
| 10 | Mark Malone | 1980–1987 | 8,582 | 54 |
FAQ: Best Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterbacks of All-Time
Who is the best Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback of all-time?
Ben Roethlisberger ranks as the best Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback of all-time because he owns the franchise passing records, won two Super Bowls and gave Pittsburgh nearly two decades of high-level quarterback play.
Why is Ben Roethlisberger ranked above Terry Bradshaw?
Ben Roethlisberger ranks above Terry Bradshaw because of his franchise-record production and longevity. Bradshaw has more Super Bowl wins, but Roethlisberger’s total Steelers résumé gives him the edge here.
How many Super Bowls did Terry Bradshaw win with the Steelers?
Terry Bradshaw won four Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers and was the quarterback of the franchise’s 1970s dynasty.
Where does Kordell Stewart rank among Steelers quarterbacks?
Kordell Stewart ranks third on this Steelers quarterback list because of his dual-threat impact, passing production and importance to the franchise in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Why is Aaron Rodgers included in this Steelers ranking?
Aaron Rodgers is included because he appears in the graphic and played for Pittsburgh in the current era. This ranking counts only his Steelers production, not his Packers or Jets career.
Who has the most passing yards in Steelers history?
Ben Roethlisberger has the most passing yards in Pittsburgh Steelers history with 64,088 regular-season passing yards.
Who has the most passing touchdowns in Steelers history?
Ben Roethlisberger has the most passing touchdowns in Pittsburgh Steelers history with 418 regular-season passing touchdowns.
Conclusion: Ben Roethlisberger Leads the Steelers Quarterback Ranking
Ben Roethlisberger ranks as the best Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback of all-time because of his franchise records, longevity and two Super Bowl championships. Terry Bradshaw remains the championship king with four rings, but Roethlisberger’s total production gives him the top spot here.
Kordell Stewart, Neil O’Donnell and Bobby Layne each represent different eras of Steelers quarterback history, while Bubby Brister, Aaron Rodgers, Tommy Maddox, Jim Finks and Mark Malone complete a top 10 that covers nearly every major chapter of Pittsburgh passing history.
The active name to watch is Aaron Rodgers. Because his Steelers chapter is still current, his place in this ranking can change quickly if he adds another strong season in Pittsburgh.
More Steelers and NFL Rankings
For the full franchise picture, visit our Pittsburgh Steelers all-time leaders and player rankings hub and our best Pittsburgh Steelers players of all-time ranking.
You can also read our related Steelers pages for Pittsburgh Steelers all-time passing yards leaders, Pittsburgh Steelers all-time passing touchdown leaders, Pittsburgh Steelers all-time rushing yards leaders, Pittsburgh Steelers all-time receiving yards leaders and best Pittsburgh Steelers running backs of all-time.
For broader NFL history, check out our best NFL quarterbacks of all-time ranking, the NFL team all-time player rankings hub and follow SOG Football on Instagram for more NFL rankings, debates and football history graphics.
