Introduction
It’s been over two years since Ben Roethlisberger’s last game wearing a Steelers uniform. Roethlisberger led the Steelers at quarterback from 2004-2021. Nearly two years ago, I asked the question of when will the next Steelers franchise quarterback emerge and is he on this season’s roster?
Just two seasons later and we have complete turnover in the quarterback room. So, I ask again, is the Steelers’ franchise quarterback on this season’s roster or do we have to wait another season to find one?
The Bradshaw Era
The Pittsburgh Steelers have just two franchise quarterbacks in their long history. Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger helped win six Lombardi Trophies for the Black and Gold. From 1970-1982, Bradshaw started 157 of 185 regular-season games played by the Steelers. He appeared in 10 games as a backup. Terry Hanratty and Joe Gilliam filled the backup role from 1970 through 1975. Then Mike Kruczek backstopped from 1976-1979.
Pittsburgh selected two quarterbacks in the 1980 draft, Mark Malone in the first round and Cliff Stoudt in the fifth. Hanratty started 12 games during the Bradshaw era. Gilliam made seven starts. The Steelers won all six games Mike Kruczek started in 1976 but never threw a touchdown pass. Bradshaw started every game from 1977-1979. Then Stoudt picked up a start in 1980. Mark Malone started two in 1981, both narrow losses.
Here are some statistics for backup quarterbacks who started games during the Bradshaw era:
| Name | GS | Record | CMP | ATT | CMP% | Yards | TDs | INTs | Sack | PY/G |
| Terry Hanratty | 12 | 6W-6L | 59 | 156 | 37.8 | 925 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 77.1 |
| Joe Gilliam | 7 | 4W-2L-1T | 91 | 205 | 44.4 | 1205 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 172.1 |
| Mike Kruczek | 6 | 6W-0L | 43 | 72 | 59.7 | 577 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 96.2 |
| Cliff Stoudt | 1 | 0W-1L | 18 | 37 | 48.6 | 310 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 310 |
| Mark Malone | 2 | 0W-2L | 28 | 60 | 46.7 | 309 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 154.5 |
Statistics from Pro Football Reference
Bradshaw’s last season as a full-time starter was in the strike-shortened 1982 season. He started all nine games but began his final season on the bench due to injuries. He completed 28-of-39 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns in his final playoff appearance. But his two interceptions contributed to a 31-28 loss to the San Diego Chargers. Bradshaw had offseason elbow surgery. So, Cliff Stoudt started the first 14 games in 1983. Bradshaw started the next game against the New York Jets. But he reinjured his elbow while throwing a touchdown pass to Calvin Sweeney to stake the Steelers to a 14-0 lead. He left the game never to play again.
21 Season Gap in the Post-Bradshaw Era
There was a 21-season gap from Terry Bradshaw’s last game in 1983 to Ben Roethlisberger’s emergence in 2004. In total, 13 quarterbacks started games for the Steelers following Bradshaw’s final game until finally, Roethlisberger started his first game in Week 3 of his rookie season in 2004.
Here are the statistics for those 13 interim starting quarterbacks:
| Name | Seasons | G | GS | W | L | T | Cmp | ATT | CMP% | Yards | TDs | INTs | Y/C | Y/G | Rating | Sacks |
| Cliff Stoudt | 1980-83 | 30 | 16 | 9 |
7 |
0 |
244 | 479 | 50.9 | 3217 | 14 | 28 | 13.2 | 107.2 | 57.9 | 56 |
| Mark Malone | 1980-87 | 60 | 46 | 21 |
24 |
0 |
690 | 1374 | 50.2 | 8582 | 54 | 68 | 12.4 | 143 | 62.4 | 77 |
| David Woodley | 1984-87 | 60 | 46 | 21 |
24 |
0 |
690 | 1374 | 50.2 | 8582 | 54 | 68 | 12.4 | 143 | 62.4 | 77 |
| Scott Campbell | 1984-86 | 24 | 2 | 0 |
2 |
0 | 51 | 115 | 44.3 | 721 | 5 | 7 | 14.1 | 30 | 54.3 | 11 |
| Bubby Brister | 1986-92 | 61 | 57 | 28 |
29 |
0 | 776 | 1477 | 52.5 | 10104 | 51 | 57 | 13 | 165.6 | 69.8 | 145 |
| Steve Bono | 1987-88 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
1 |
0 | 44 | 109 | 40.4 | 548 | 6 | 4 | 12.5 | 109.6 | 59.7 | 7 |
| Todd Blackledge | 1988-89 | 6 | 5 | 2 |
3 |
0 | 60 | 139 | 43.2 | 776 | 3 | 6 | 12.9 | 129.3 | 50.5 | 8 |
| Neil O’Donnell | 1991-95 | 66 | 61 | 39 |
22 |
0 | 1069 | 1871 | 57.1 | 12867 | 68 | 39 | 12 | 195 | 81.8 | 148 |
| Mike Tomczak | 1993-99 | 84 | 27 | 15 |
12 |
0 | 546 | 973 | 56.1 | 6649 | 37 | 43 | 12.2 | 79.2 | 71.6 | 50 |
| Jim Miller | 1995-96 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 81 | 55.6 | 520 | 2 | 5 | 11.6 | 104 | 57.6 | 4 |
| Kordell Stewart | 1995-02 | 113 | 80 | 46 |
29 |
0 |
1190 | 2107 | 56.5 | 13328 | 70 | 72 | 11.2 | 117.9 | 72.3 | 145 |
| Kent Graham | 2000 | 12 | 5 | 2 |
3 |
0 |
66 | 148 | 44.6 | 878 | 1 | 1 | 13.3 | 73.2 | 63.4 | 13 |
| Tommy Maddox | 2001-05 | 42 | 32 | 15 |
16 |
1 |
603 | 1036 | 58.2 | 7139 | 42 | 40 | 11.8 | 170 | 76.7 | 82 |
Statistics from Pro Football Reference
Neil O’Donnell and Kordell Stewart lead this group. But even with a Super Bowl appearance and several playoff seasons neither qualifies as a franchise quarterback.
The Roethlisberger Era
Ben Roethlisberger anchored the Steelers from 2004-2021. He started 247 of 289 regular-season games during that span. That’s over 85 percent of the games. He also came in off the bench in his NFL debut and later in 2015. He started every regular-season game four times: 2008, 2013, 2014, and 2018. Eight backup quarterbacks started the 42 games during the Roethlisberger era. Tommy Maddox was not technically a backup in 2004 but soon became one. He started five games in 2004-2005. Charlie Batch started nine games between 2005 and 2012. Dennis Dixon started three games, Byron Leftwich one, Michael Vick three and Landry Jones five. Duck Hodges got five six starts in 2019 after Roethlisberger landed on injured reserve following the second game. Mason Rudolph started eight games in 2019, then one apiece in 2021 and 2022.
Here are some statistics for backup quarterbacks who started games during the Roethlisberger era:
| Name | GS | Record | CMP | ATT | CMP% | Yards | TDs | INTs | Sack | PY/G |
| Tommy Maddox | 5 | 2W-3L | 59 | 123 | 48.0 | 713 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 142.6 |
| Charlie Batch | 9 | 6W-3L | 137 | 221 | 62.0 | 1652 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 183.6 |
| Dennis Dixon | 3 | 2W-1L | 34 | 58 | 58.6 | 399 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 133.0 |
| Byron Leftwich | 1 | 0W-1L | 18 | 31 | 58.1 | 179 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 179.0 |
| Michael Vick | 3 | 2W-1L | 35 | 60 | 58.3 | 333 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 111.0 |
| Landry Jones | 5 | 3W-2L | 95 | 144 | 66.0 | 1029 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 205.8 |
| Duck Hodges | 6 | 3W-3L | 88 | 140 | 62.9 | 877 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 146.2 |
| Mason Rudolph | 10 | 5W-4L-1T | 202 | 333 | 60.7 | 2081 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 208.1 |
Statistics from Pro Football Reference
The post-Roethlisberger Era
Three quarterbacks have started Steelers games since Ben Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season. But all three are now on other teams. Kenny Pickett was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, Mason Rudolph signed with the Tennessee Titans, and Mitch Trubisky is now with the Buffalo Bills. All three are currently backups.
| Name | Seasons | G | GS | W | L | T | Cmp | ATT | CMP% | Yards | TDs | INTs | Y/C | Y/G | Rating | Sacks |
| Mitch Trubisky | 2022-23 | 12 | 7 | 2 |
5 |
0 |
184 | 287 | 64.1 | 1884 | 8 | 10 | 10.2 | 157.0 | 77.6 | 18 |
| Kenny Pickett | 2022-23 | 25 | 24 | 14 |
10 |
0 |
446 | 713 | 62.6 | 4474 | 13 | 13 | 10.0 | 179.0 | 78.8 | 50 |
| Mason Rudolph | 2022-23 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
0 |
0 |
55 | 74 | 74.3 | 719 | 3 | 0 | 13.1 | 179.8 | 118.0 | 6 |
Now Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, Kyle Allen, and John Rhys Plumlee constitute the Steelers’ quarterback room.
Conclusion
Realistically, Russell Wilson will begin the season as the starting quarterback with Justin Fields preparing to take over if needed. At 36 years old, it’s doubtful that Wilson will remain the Steelers’ starting quarterback for very long even if he is very successful in 2024. Fields is 25 years old. It is conceivable that he could play for another 10-12 years if he remains healthy and continues to develop. Could Fields be the one? Or will the Steelers have to wait for a future draft pick to find the next quarterback considered the franchise player for the team. I just hope we don’t have to wait 21 years to find out.
Your Song Selection
I always like to include a bit of music. Whoever is going to take this franchise to the next level can’t fear the reaper. Here is “Don’t Fear the Reaper” performed by Blue Oyster Cult.
