Cover Story: Ben Roethlisberger worries about winning his next game and not about his legacy
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Will Big Ben join the ranks of the sport's QB elite?
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Fort Worth, Texas -- Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wears No. 7 because it was John Elway's number. He grew up a San Francisco 49ers fan in Findlay, Ohio, because of his admiration for Joe Montana.
No quarterback has played in more Super Bowls than Elway. None have won more than Montana.
If anybody knows what is at stake tonight at Cowboys Stadium, it is Roethlisberger. He is playing for his third Super Bowl ring -- a milestone that would put him between childhood heroes Elway (two) and Montana (four) in Super Bowl victories and cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats.
"He wins this one, and he's about to go down in the books," said Steelers left guard Chris Kemoeatu.
But Roethlisberger, 28, would rather not think about his place in history.
"It is kind of a tough thing to comment on because legacies are usually something that are asked [about] when you're done," Roethlisberger said. "I think you can always build toward your legacy and what you want it to be. Just trying to win football games and championships is what I'm trying to do now."
The comparisons, though, are hard to avoid.
Montana believes Roethlisberger already has sealed his place as one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.
"Everybody's talking about, 'Do you think he's going to make the Hall of Fame?' " Montana said. "He's already accomplished more than a lot of the guys that are in the Hall of Fame."
Winning two Super Bowls does not guarantee a quarterback a spot in Canton -- just ask Oakland Raiders great Jim Plunkett, the only multiple Super Bowl winner who has not been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Winning three or more does, apparently.
Montana; Terry Bradshaw, the only other quarterback to win four; and Troy Aikman are in the Hall of Fame, and few doubt New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will join them.
Roethlisberger said he is more concerned with winning games than being mentioned as an elite quarterback, and teammate and close friend Byron Leftwich said the sentiment is genuine.
First Published February 6, 2011 12:00 am
