Ben Roethlisberger unleashes controversial Aaron Rodgers, Patrick Mahomes take

Ben Roethlisberger is elated for Aaron Rodgers to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025. As the season approaches, he made a wild claim regarding the quarterback and Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.

During the latest episode of Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers legend proclaimed he would take Rodgers in his prime over Mahomes right now. The craziest part was Roethlisberger stating that Mahomes has already left his prime behind, as he enters his age 29 season.

“I would take Aaron in his prime over Patrick now,” Roethlisberger stated. “I think, Aaron Rodgers, in his prime, was one of the top few to ever do it. So is Patrick Mahomes in his prime. Patrick Mahomes is just now entering out of his prime, I think. I think, Patrick Mahomes is phenomenal. He’s going to go down as another arguable GOAT. There’s only one GOAT, but there’s GOATs. There’s a whole herd of GOATs.

“But I think, Aaron in his prime (is better) than Patrick right now. If we’re talking about prime and prime, then I’m really going to have to think hard on that.”

Arguing Rodgers in his prime was better than Mahomes right now, there’s a case to be made. While Rodgers only won one Super Bowl, which ironically came against Roethlisberger’s Steelers, he was still one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever grace the NFL.

It’s the fact that Roethlisberger believers Mahomes’ best days are behind him that’s shocking. Whether that’s the case or not remains to be seen, but one rough performance in the Super Bowl seems to have shifted everyone’s focus. He’ll be out to remind the masses in 2025.

As for Rodgers, he may be on his last legs, but Pittsburgh is hoping he can still be a serviceable starter. He’s getting ready for his 21st season in the NFL after signing a one-year contract. In the eyes Roethlisberger, it could be his former peer’s last go-round.

Earlier this offseason, Roethlisberger predicted the 2025 season would be the final year for Rodgers in the NFL, and the quarterback seemingly confirmed that sentiment later on. Looking at the recent history of injuries — notably an Achilles tear that cost Rodgers his 2023 campaign – it isn’t hard to see why that’s the prevailing thought.

In making his point, Roethlisberger pointed to personal injury history, after he suffered an elbow injury that required surgery in the late stage of his NFL career. He thought he was back to full strength right away, but later realized he wasn’t and retired two years after. He expects that to be the case with Rodgers two years removed from the Achilles injury.

Regardless, Ben Roethlisberger is a believer in Aaron Rodgers, and he’s hoping the veteran can bring the Pittsburgh Steelers some serious success in 2025. If his comments make it to Patrick Mahomes though, they may give the Chiefs quarterback the proper motivation to bury Pittsburgh if they meet in the playoffs.