Coming into the 2011 Super Bowl Ben Roethlisberger is no longer most famous for his two Super Bowl rings, although USA Today suggests that will change if he wins Super Bowl XLV. In the meantime, he’ll have Super Bowl history—XL and XLIII—to fall back on.
Super Bowl XL was not a great debut for Roethlisberger, who nevertheless received credit for playing for the winner, as most quarterbacks not named Trent DIlfer get. He went 9-for-21 against the Seattle Seahawks, with two interceptions and just 123 passing yards. Roethlisberger was a rookie, but he was playing far below his established talent level that night.
Super Bowl XLIII was more impressive. Roethlisberger was 21-for-30 with 256 yards and a touchdown (as well as another interception) in the Steeler’s victory over the Arizona Cardinals. That touchdown came on his last play of the game, so his timing had gotten much better in the intervening III years.
One thing’s for certain: If the Steelers get Super Bowl XL Roethlisberger, they’ll be hard-pressed to get very far.