In 2004, a rookie QB for the Pittsburgh Steelers has to come into the game for an injured Tommy Maddox. That quarterbacks name is Ben Roethlisberger. Roethlisberger would go 15 and 1 in his rookie season, losing to the Patriots in the AFC championship game. His performance would win him offensive rookie of the year. It would be correct to say that Roethlisberger lived up to the hype he had after his rookie campaign. Eighteen seasons, six pro-bowls, and two Super Bowl championships later, Big Ben says goodbye to Steeler Nation.

Ben Roethlisberger embodied the city of Pittsburgh. Taking hits, playing through injuries, and always putting his body on the line to win for his team, and it all helped him be successful. Roethlisberger is 165-81-1 as a starter in the NFL. In all of those 18 seasons in the NFL, Roethlisberger spent all of them on the Steelers, and he was never part of a losing team. His career win percentage is .667, which puts him second among active players, behind only Tom Brady. Roethlisberger has also accumulated quite the stat resume in his long historic career.

Roethlisberger owns almost every single quarterback record for the Pittsburgh Steelers. If you want to see how his stats stand against all time quarterbacks, he’ll impress you with those rankings too. Ben is fifth in all-time passing yards, with 63,844 total yards. He ranks eighth in all-time passing touchdowns, with 417 scores through the air. He is seventh in career passer rating all time, posting a 93.6. Ben is also fifth in completions, with 5,410, and he is sixth in yards per attempt, with 7.6. Ben is fifth in wins as a starting quarterback, with 163. He is fourth in game winning drives, with 52. He is also third in fourth quarter comebacks, with 40. If that doesn’t scream that Ben is an all-time great, then I am not sure what does.

Ben spent his whole career in Pittsburgh, giving his all to the city and fans. In five years time, Ben Roethlisbeger will be enshrined in Canton, solidifying his legacy as one of the all time greats to ever play.