Ben Roethlisberger Would Take Aaron Rodgers in His Prime Over Patrick Mahomes: A Steelers Great Speaks His Mind
When NFL legend and Pittsburgh Steelers icon Ben Roethlisberger speaks, fans and pundits alike pay attention. Recently, Roethlisberger stirred the ever-simmering pot of quarterback debates by stating he would take Aaron Rodgers in his prime over Kansas City Chiefs superstar Patrick Mahomes. Given Roethlisberger’s two-decade career as one of the league’s most durable and successful quarterbacks, his opinion carries significant weight — and ignites a conversation that refuses to go away.
To understand where Roethlisberger is coming from, it’s essential to examine both quarterbacks through the lens of their respective primes — Rodgers in the early to mid-2010s, and Mahomes from 2018 to the present.
The Case for Aaron Rodgers
Aaron Rodgers’ prime was a blend of elegance, precision, and unshakable command of the game. From 2010 to 2016, he was arguably the most efficient and cerebral quarterback in football. He combined elite arm talent with incredible decision-making. His 2011 season — 45 touchdowns, 6 interceptions, 122.5 passer rating — remains one of the most efficient quarterbacking seasons in NFL history. Rodgers won four MVP awards (three during his “prime years”) and helped lead the Green Bay Packers to a Super Bowl title in 2010.
Roethlisberger emphasized Rodgers’ ability to make every throw, his uncanny pre-snap reads, and his capacity to extend plays without sacrificing ball security. “He was surgical,” Roethlisberger has said in interviews. “He made it look so easy. I’d see some of the throws he made and just shake my head.” Coming from someone with Roethlisberger’s resume — two Super Bowl wins, over 60,000 passing yards, and a reputation for toughness and clutch play — that’s not faint praise.
Rodgers’ mastery of the back-shoulder throw, his incredible touchdown-to-interception ratio, and his cool composure under pressure gave him an aura of inevitability. His ability to elevate a roster that was often devoid of elite skill position players or dominant defenses also adds to his case. He didn’t have the benefit of Hall of Fame-caliber teammates in every phase of the game; instead, he was the system.
The Case for Patrick Mahomes
On the other hand, Patrick Mahomes is rewriting the NFL’s offensive playbook. Since becoming the Chiefs’ starter in 2018, Mahomes has reached four Super Bowls (winning three), captured two MVPs, and become the fastest quarterback in history to reach 25,000 passing yards. His flair for improvisation, deep-ball accuracy, and mental resilience have earned him comparisons not just to Rodgers, but to the all-time greats — Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning.
Mahomes’ combination of athleticism, creativity, and clutch gene has made him the face of the NFL in the 2020s. No lead seems safe when Mahomes is under center. His playoff heroics — like coming back from a 24-point deficit against Houston or outdueling Josh Allen in the famous “13 seconds” game — are the stuff of legend. He has shown a remarkable ability to adapt as well, transitioning from gunslinger to methodical field general when defenses began dropping into deep zone coverage.
Still, Roethlisberger’s preference for Rodgers may come down to aesthetics and fundamentals. Rodgers, in his prime, played the position with a surgeon’s precision. Mahomes, for all his magic, occasionally veers into chaos — albeit usually controlled chaos. Rodgers was the gold standard of mechanical consistency and field IQ. Mahomes might be the best “playmaker” ever, but Rodgers was arguably the best “quarterback” in the classical sense.
Experience and Respect
There’s also a generational element. Roethlisberger came into the league in 2004 and spent most of his career battling quarterbacks like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and yes — Aaron Rodgers. Mahomes didn’t become a regular starter until Roethlisberger was on the back nine of his career. It’s natural that Big Ben might feel a stronger connection and greater respect for someone he directly competed with, someone who dominated during the same era he did.
Roethlisberger has always admired technical mastery and toughness — values that Rodgers embodies. While Mahomes may eventually surpass both Rodgers and Roethlisberger in raw numbers and Super Bowl titles, Big Ben is judging greatness by the metrics he knows best: command, consistency, and brilliance from the pocket.
A Debate Without a Wrong Answer
Ultimately, the Rodgers vs. Mahomes debate has no definitive answer — at least not yet. Mahomes still has many years left in his prime, while Rodgers’ legacy is largely written. Roethlisberger siding with Rodgers is less a dismissal of Mahomes’ greatness and more a testament to just how special Rodgers was at his peak.
Coming from a future Hall of Famer like Ben Roethlisberger, it’s not a hot take — it’s a master’s perspective on what greatness once looked like, and what it still can be.
