Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Passing Yards Leaders

Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Passing Yards Leaders starts with Ben Roethlisberger, the franchise record-holder with 64,088 passing yards. For a team with Terry Bradshaw, Kordell Stewart, Neil O’Donnell, Bobby Layne and Tommy Maddox in its quarterback history, Roethlisberger’s gap at the top of the leaderboard is massive.

Roethlisberger is the clear statistical king of Steelers passing history, while Bradshaw remains the dynasty quarterback who defined Pittsburgh’s 1970s run. Kordell Stewart sits third as one of the most unique dual-threat quarterbacks in franchise history, and Neil O’Donnell, Bubby Brister, Bobby Layne, Jim Finks, Mark Malone, Tommy Maddox and Mike Tomczak round out a top 10 that stretches across several very different Steelers eras.

For the full team index, visit our Pittsburgh Steelers all-time leaders and player rankings hub. This list uses regular-season passing yards recorded with the Pittsburgh Steelers only.

How This Steelers Passing Yards List Works

This list ranks the Pittsburgh Steelers all-time passing yards leaders by regular-season passing yards recorded with the franchise. It does not include playoff passing yards, preseason stats or passing yards gained with another NFL team.

That matters for players like Bobby Layne, Mike Tomczak, Mason Rudolph, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and others who also played elsewhere. For this leaderboard, only their Steelers production counts.

This ranking follows the regular-season franchise passing yards leaderboard, with Ben Roethlisberger first, Terry Bradshaw second and Kordell Stewart third.

Last updated: 2026 offseason. Recent Steelers quarterbacks such as Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers are outside the top 10 in franchise passing yards.

1. Ben Roethlisberger — 64,088 Passing Yards

Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 2004–2021 with Pittsburgh, franchise-record 64,088 passing yards, franchise-record 418 passing touchdowns, six Pro Bowls, two Super Bowl championships and 2004 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Ben Roethlisberger is the Pittsburgh Steelers all-time passing yards leader by an enormous margin. His 64,088 yards are more than double Terry Bradshaw’s total, which shows how long and productive his Steelers career was.

Roethlisberger gave Pittsburgh stability at quarterback for nearly two decades. He combined size, toughness, arm strength and pocket creativity, often extending plays that looked dead and turning pressure into big gains.

His résumé includes two Super Bowl wins, years of playoff runs and nearly every major Steelers passing record. When it comes to regular-season passing production in Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger stands alone.

2. Terry Bradshaw — 27,989 Passing Yards

Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1970–1983 with Pittsburgh, 27,989 passing yards, 212 passing touchdowns, four Super Bowl championships, two Super Bowl MVPs, 1978 NFL MVP and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback.

Terry Bradshaw ranks second in Steelers career passing yards with 27,989. His total sits far behind Roethlisberger, but Bradshaw’s legacy is built on championships, big-game throws and leadership during Pittsburgh’s dynasty years.

Bradshaw played in a much tougher passing era. Defenses were more physical, completion rates were lower and the Steelers’ identity was built around defense and the run game before the passing attack opened up.

His four Super Bowl rings make him one of the most important players in franchise history. In terms of passing yards, he is second; in terms of Steelers legacy, he is one of the faces of the entire organization.

3. Kordell Stewart — 13,328 Passing Yards

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 in Steelers career passing yards with 13,328. His numbers only tell part of the story, because Stewart was one of the most versatile quarterbacks Pittsburgh has ever had.

Before becoming the full-time starter, Stewart earned the “Slash” nickname because he could play quarterback, receiver and runner. Once he became the starter, his athleticism gave the Steelers offense a different shape.

Stewart was not a traditional pocket passer, but his dual-threat ability made him dangerous. His top-three passing yards ranking, combined with his rushing production, gives him a unique place in Steelers history.

4. Neil O’Donnell — 12,867 Passing Yards

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 Steelers career passing yards with 12,867. He was the quarterback during the early Bill Cowher years, when Pittsburgh became a yearly AFC contender again.

O’Donnell was efficient, careful with the football and a good fit for the Steelers’ physical style. He did not always produce huge numbers, but he helped stabilize the position during an important transition era.

His Steelers career is often remembered through the lens of Super Bowl XXX, but his regular-season production still keeps him firmly in the franchise top five.

5. Bubby Brister — 10,104 Passing Yards

Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1986–1992 with Pittsburgh, 10,104 passing yards and 51 passing touchdowns.

Bubby Brister ranks fifth in Steelers career passing yards with 10,104. He played during the late Chuck Noll era, when Pittsburgh was trying to find its next long-term quarterback after Terry Bradshaw.

Brister brought toughness, energy and a strong arm. His style could be aggressive, and while the results were sometimes uneven, he gave the Steelers several seasons of starting-caliber production.

Crossing 10,000 passing yards with Pittsburgh keeps him inside the top five, which shows how much he played during a transitional period for the franchise.

6. Bobby Layne — 9,030 Passing Yards

Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1958–1962 with Pittsburgh, 9,030 passing yards, 66 passing touchdowns and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback.

Bobby Layne ranks sixth in Steelers career passing yards with 9,030. His full NFL legacy is bigger than his Steelers chapter, but his Pittsburgh years still matter in the franchise record book.

Layne arrived after building a historic résumé elsewhere, and he immediately gave the Steelers a proven quarterback. His passing style fit a much different era, where quarterbacks took more hits and offenses were far less efficient than today.

His 9,030 yards and 66 touchdown passes keep him high on both Steelers passing leaderboards.

7. Jim Finks — 8,622 Passing Yards

Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1949–1955 with Pittsburgh, 8,622 passing yards and 55 passing touchdowns.

Jim Finks ranks seventh in Steelers career passing yards with 8,622. He played in an era when passing numbers were much smaller and offenses were built very differently.

Finks was one of Pittsburgh’s primary passers during the early postwar years. His numbers may not look huge by modern standards, but they were significant for the time.

His place in the top 10 shows how important he was to the early Steelers passing game.

8. Mark Malone — 8,582 Passing Yards

Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1980–1987 with Pittsburgh, 8,582 passing yards and 54 passing touchdowns.

Mark Malone ranks eighth in Steelers career passing yards with 8,582. Like Brister, Malone was part of the difficult post-Bradshaw quarterback search.

Malone had athletic ability and arm talent, but consistency was a challenge. The Steelers were no longer the same dynasty team from the 1970s, and the offense went through several changes during his run.

Still, Malone’s yardage total keeps him inside the franchise top 10, just behind Jim Finks.

9. Tommy Maddox — 7,139 Passing Yards

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 ninth in Steelers career passing yards with 7,139. His comeback story is one of the more interesting quarterback chapters in team history.

Maddox helped bring more passing volume to Pittsburgh before Ben Roethlisberger arrived. His 2002 season gave the offense a spark and earned him NFL Comeback Player of the Year recognition.

He eventually gave way to Roethlisberger, but Maddox’s brief run was productive enough to keep him in the Steelers top 10.

10. Mike Tomczak — 6,649 Passing Yards

Pittsburgh Steelers Stats & Accolades: 1993–1999 with Pittsburgh, 6,649 passing yards and 37 passing touchdowns.

Mike Tomczak rounds out the top 10 in Steelers career passing yards with 6,649. He was a veteran quarterback who gave Pittsburgh experience and stability during the 1990s.

Tomczak was not always the long-term answer, but he was useful as both a starter and backup. He helped keep the offense functional during a period when the Steelers were still competing with defense and a physical running game.

His 6,649 yards keep him ahead of every other Steelers quarterback outside the top 10.

Passing Yards vs. Steelers Quarterback Legacy

Passing yards matter, but Steelers quarterback legacy is not judged by yardage alone. Pittsburgh’s two defining quarterback eras are still Bradshaw’s championship dynasty and Roethlisberger’s long modern run.

Bradshaw does not come close to Roethlisberger statistically, but four Super Bowl wins make his legacy untouchable in a different way. Roethlisberger owns the record book because he played in a higher-volume passing era and stayed productive for 18 seasons.

The rest of the leaderboard shows Pittsburgh’s long search between those two franchise pillars. Stewart, O’Donnell, Brister, Malone, Maddox and Tomczak all had meaningful runs, but none became the long-term record-setter Roethlisberger eventually became.

Biggest Takeaways From the Steelers Passing Yards List

The biggest takeaway is Ben Roethlisberger’s massive lead. His 64,088 passing yards are more than twice Terry Bradshaw’s total, making him the clear statistical passing king in Steelers history.

The second takeaway is how different the quarterback eras are. Bradshaw’s ranking is tied to a championship dynasty, while Roethlisberger’s ranking reflects modern passing volume, long-term durability and elite production.

The third takeaway is that Pittsburgh’s quarterback history has often been defined by long gaps between franchise passers. After Bradshaw, the team had several productive starters before Roethlisberger finally reset the record book.

Full Ranking Table: Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Passing Yards Leaders

Note: This table is sorted by regular-season passing yards with the Steelers only. It does not include playoff passing yards or passing yards recorded with other NFL teams.

FAQ: Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Passing Yards Leaders

Who has the most passing yards in Pittsburgh Steelers history?

Ben Roethlisberger has the most passing yards in Pittsburgh Steelers history with 64,088 regular-season passing yards.

Who is second in Steelers career passing yards?

Terry Bradshaw ranks second in Steelers career passing yards with 27,989 passing yards.

Who is third in Pittsburgh Steelers all-time passing yards?

Kordell Stewart ranks third with 13,328 passing yards for Pittsburgh.

How far ahead is Ben Roethlisberger on the Steelers passing yards list?

Ben Roethlisberger is far ahead of the rest of the leaderboard. He has 64,088 passing yards, while Terry Bradshaw ranks second with 27,989.

Where does Terry Bradshaw rank in Steelers passing yards?

Terry Bradshaw ranks second in Steelers career passing yards with 27,989 yards.

Is Ben Roethlisberger also the Steelers passing touchdown leader?

Yes. Ben Roethlisberger is also the Steelers all-time passing touchdown leader with 418 touchdown passes.

Who is the highest-ranking Steelers quarterback after Roethlisberger and Bradshaw?

Kordell Stewart is the highest-ranking Steelers quarterback after Roethlisberger and Bradshaw, ranking third with 13,328 passing yards.

Are playoff passing yards included in this Steelers ranking?

No. This ranking uses regular-season passing yards with the Steelers only. Playoff passing yards are not included.

Conclusion: Ben Roethlisberger Owns the Steelers Passing Yards Record

Ben Roethlisberger remains the Pittsburgh Steelers all-time passing yards leader with 64,088 yards. Terry Bradshaw ranks second with 27,989, while Kordell Stewart is third with 13,328.

The gap between Roethlisberger and the rest of the list shows how much he changed Pittsburgh’s passing record book. The Steelers have always been known for defense, toughness and the running game, but Roethlisberger gave the franchise its most productive passing era.

Bradshaw still owns the dynasty legacy, but Roethlisberger owns the yardage crown. Together, they define the two biggest quarterback chapters in Steelers history.

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 best Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks of all-time, Pittsburgh Steelers all-time passing touchdown leaders, Pittsburgh Steelers all-time rushing yards leaders, Pittsburgh Steelers all-time rushing touchdown leaders and Pittsburgh Steelers all-time receiving yards leaders.

For broader NFL history, check out our best NFL quarterbacks of all-time ranking, our NFL page and the NFL team all-time player rankings hub. You can also follow SOG Football on Instagram for more NFL rankings, debates and football history graphics.