| Rank | Name | Team | Years | Season | Fantasy | Playoffs | Rating | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Terry Bradshaw | Steelers | 14 | Great | Average | Elite | 81.63 | Aura |
| 2 | Ben Roethlisberger | Steelers | 18 | Great | Great | Elite | 70.37 | Sigma |
| 3 | Aaron Rodgers | Steelers | 1 | Good | Good | Good | 36.61 | Slaps |
| 4 | Neil O'Donnell | Steelers | 5 | Good | Good | Average | 34.48 | Chill |
| 5 | Kordell Stewart | Steelers | 8 | Good | Average | Average | 32.38 | Chill |
| 6 | Bubby Brister | Steelers | 7 | Average | Subpar | Average | 28.98 | Delulu |
| 7 | Mike Tomczak | Steelers | 7 | Average | Subpar | Average | 28.90 | Delulu |
| 8 | Tommy Maddox | Steelers | 5 | Average | Average | Average | 28.87 | Delulu |
| 9 | Mark Malone | Steelers | 7 | Average | Subpar | Subpar | 27.47 | Delulu |
| 10 | Russell Wilson | Steelers | 1 | Average | Good | Subpar | 26.06 | Delulu |
| 11 | Cliff Stoudt | Steelers | 4 | Average | Subpar | Subpar | 25.40 | Delulu |
| 12 | Bobby Layne | Steelers | 5 | Good | Subpar | Non-Factor | 17.96 | NPC |
| 13 | Kenny Pickett | Steelers | 3 | Good | Subpar | Non-Factor | 17.73 | NPC |
| 14 | Bill Nelsen | Steelers | 5 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 16.59 | NPC |
| 15 | Ed Brown | Steelers | 4 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 16.48 | NPC |
| 16 | Jim Finks | Steelers | 7 | Subpar | Average | Non-Factor | 16.40 | NPC |
| 17 | Dick Shiner | Steelers | 2 | Non-Factor | Average | Non-Factor | 15.20 | NPC |
| 18 | Earl Morrall | Steelers | 2 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 15.17 | NPC |
| 19 | Joe Geri | Steelers | 3 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 15.06 | NPC |
| 20 | Justin Fields | Steelers | 1 | Good | Good | Non-Factor | 13.44 | NPC |
| 21 | Charlie Batch | Steelers | 8 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 10.99 | NPC |
| 22 | Landry Jones | Steelers | 3 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 10.76 | NPC |
| 23 | Mike Kruczek | Steelers | 4 | Great | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 10.74 | NPC |
| 24 | Steve Bono | Steelers | 2 | Average | Average | Non-Factor | 10.62 | NPC |
| 25 | David Woodley | Steelers | 2 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 9.79 | NPC |
| 26 | Devlin Hodges | Steelers | 1 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 9.79 | NPC |
| 27 | Joe Gilliam | Steelers | 4 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 9.59 | NPC |
| 28 | Michael Vick | Steelers | 1 | Average | Subpar | Non-Factor | 9.41 | NPC |
| 29 | Mason Rudolph | Steelers | 5 | Subpar | Subpar | Subpar | 9.31 | Cooked |
| 30 | Bill Mackrides | Steelers | 1 | Average | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 9.20 | Cooked |
| 31 | Jack Scarbath | Steelers | 1 | Average | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 8.71 | Cooked |
| 32 | Kent Graham | Steelers | 1 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.42 | Cooked |
| 33 | Kent Nix | Steelers | 3 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.41 | Cooked |
| 34 | Mitchell Trubisky | Steelers | 2 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.15 | Cooked |
| 35 | Ron C. Smith | Steelers | 1 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.04 | Cooked |
| 36 | Rudy Bukich | Steelers | 2 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 8.03 | Cooked |
| 37 | Ted Marchibroda | Steelers | 3 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.88 | Cooked |
| 38 | Terry Hanratty | Steelers | 7 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.85 | Cooked |
| 39 | Todd Blackledge | Steelers | 2 | Subpar | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.83 | Cooked |
| 40 | Byron Leftwich | Steelers | 3 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.68 | Cooked |
| 41 | Jim Miller | Steelers | 2 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 7.08 | Cooked |
| 42 | Scott Campbell | Steelers | 3 | Non-Factor | Subpar | Non-Factor | 6.60 | Cooked |
| 43 | Chuck Ortmann | Steelers | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 6.16 | Cooked |
| 44 | George Izo | Steelers | 1 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.92 | Cooked |
| 45 | Len Dawson | Steelers | 3 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.57 | Cooked |
| 46 | Tommy Wade | Steelers | 2 | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | Non-Factor | 5.05 | Cooked |
All-Time Steelers QB Rankings
FAQ
Who is the greatest Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback of all time?
Terry Bradshaw holds the top spot with a rating of 81.63, driven by his “Great” regular-season performance, “Average” fantasy impact, and “Elite” playoff showings across 14 seasons, earning them “Aura” status as the franchise’s iconic figure.
How does Terry Bradshaw compare to the greatest quarterback of all time?
Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL. His highest rating is with the New England Patriots—a fitting 133.7—and overall is even higher because of his Super Bowl win with Tampa Bay. Terry Bradshaw’s 81.63 with the Steelers, while leading the team to four Super Bowl victories in the 1970s, doesn’t match Brady’s sustained excellence across eras—his overall rating with both Tampa and New England totals 148.5.
For a full comparison, check out the All-Time QB Rankings here.
What is the difference between HeyTC’s QB Rating and ESPN’s QBR?
QBR is an outdated model that doesn’t take into account whether the quarterback won the game—its first flaw. Winning is everything; who cares if Quarterback X has the highest QBR but doesn’t win games? Its second flaw is that it doesn’t factor in playoff and Super Bowl success.
By contrast, the HeyTC QB Rating is a composite score evaluating a quarterback’s tenure with his team, factoring in regular-season performance, fantasy football value, playoff success, and overall franchise legacy.
Is Aaron Rodgers one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL?
While Aaron Rodgers is good, he’s not Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs, who is still the best quarterback in the NFL. For the complete NFL daily quarterback rankings, check out our list that include some surprises.
What do the “Season,” “Fantasy,” and “Playoffs” columns mean?
These columns use qualitative tiers to assess regular-season excellence (e.g., Good for standout play), fantasy (e.g., “Elite” for top scorers), and postseason performance (e.g., “Great” for significant playoff runs)—forming the foundation of the overall ranking.
How do Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks compare to other teams?
To see how Pittsburgh Steelers’s all-time QB lineup stacks up league-wide—and get our bold prediction on when this team will win its next Super Bowl—check out the All-Time Team QB Rankings here.
What do the slang terms in the “Overall” column mean (like “Aura,” “Sigma,” or “NPC”)?
These terms, inspired by our “Dad Glossary,” add a playful, informal spin to describe quarterback impact:
- Aura/Elite: Legendary, game-changing dominance.
- Sigma/Great: Consistently elite performers.
- Slaps/Good: Solid, reliable contributors.
- Chill/Average: Dependable but unremarkable.
- Delulu/Mediocre: Overhyped with underwhelming results.
- NPC/Subpar: Forgettable and inconsistent.
- Cooked/Non-Factor: Complete busts.
How often is this list updated?
The list is updated throughout the year, with major revisions during the NFL postseason and after the Super Bowl to reflect evolving careers of quarterbacks.