RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesWith the Class of 2026 enshrined, national football analysts are already shifting focus to the stacked 2027 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Headlining the incoming group of first-year eligible legends is former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, sparking an immediate debate on “ Pro Football Talk ” regarding his first-ballot credentials compared to newly inducted Hall of Famer Drew Brees.
Evaluating the 2027 class alongside lock candidates Rob Gronkowski and Adrian Peterson, PFT host Mike Florio raised the comparison between the two great quarterbacks.
"Ben Roethlisberger he's got two Super Bowl wins. Jim Plunkett does too, but you know, I've already seen the arguments Roethlisberger’s career was better than Drew Brees. I think that's a subject for debate," argued Florio.
Analyst Chris Simms offered a far more definitive stance on the matchup, unequivocally backing the long-time Steelers signal-caller over Brees.
"Ben Roethlisberger, I will echo what you just said. You ask me to take a quarterback, I'm taking Ben Roethlisberger over Drew Brees any day of the week," Simms declared. "Yeah, if Drew got in first ballot, I believe Ben Roethlisberger, who went to three Super Bowls and won two of them, yes, should be in and could carry his team by himself at times."
Roethlisberger’s candidacy is fortified by a rare combination of longevity, postseason success, and game-changing physical dominance. Across 18 seasons in Pittsburgh, he accumulated 64,088 passing yards and 418 touchdowns, leading the Steelers to three AFC titles and two Lombardi Trophies.
While voting dynamics can be unpredictable, Simms’ emphatic endorsement underscores a growing sentiment across many in NFL media: if Brees earned first-ballot honors, Roethlisberger’s resume easily merits a gold jacket on his first attempt in 2027.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Florio, Simms debate Ben Roethlisberger vs. Drew Brees to Hall of Fame
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