When followers take into consideration Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks, names like Ben Roethlisberger and Terry Bradshaw are in all probability the primary that come to thoughts. In the present day, Aaron Rodgers is carrying on that legacy, sporting quantity eight for the Steelers. Whereas that quantity doesn’t have the legacy of seven or 12 in Pittsburgh, Tommy Maddox had some success below heart sporting eight for the Steelers. Analyst Gregg Rosenthal defended Maddox’s legacy with the Steelers, believing that Rodgers gained’t be higher in Pittsburgh than the quarterback who preceded Roethlisberger.
“I believe that’s a reasonably excessive bar,” Rosenthal mentioned Friday on his NFL Each day podcast. “The next bar than most non-Steelers followers would say. As a result of Steelers followers, I believe, would say, ‘Tommy Gun received us into the playoffs and gave us some enjoyable. We had some enjoyable with Tommy Gun.’ Tommy Maddox was placing up 30 factors in back-to-back weeks within the playoffs.
“He gained Comeback Participant of the Yr that season. They went 7-3 in his begins within the common season, taking up for Kordell Stewart. I don’t assume Aaron Rodgers is gonna attain these heights. Thirty factors in back-to-back playoff video games is an actual factor. He was enjoying at a excessive stage.”
Maddox didn’t have an extended stint with the Steelers, enjoying for them from 2001-05. His time as their starter was even shorter. Maddox changed Stewart in 2002, main Pittsburgh on a improbable run. Nonetheless, the next season noticed his play drop off, with the Steelers going 6-10. Whereas he was their starter to start the 2004 season, he received injured, with Roethlisberger taking the beginning spot.
The remaining is historical past. Maddox’s time in Pittsburgh burned brightly, nevertheless it was brief. Regardless of that, he made probably the most of it.
Maddox led the Steelers on one of the vital wonderful playoff comebacks in NFL historical past in 2002. Down 17 factors to the Cleveland Browns within the third quarter, Maddox helped the Steelers put up 22 factors within the fourth quarter on their strategy to a 36-33 win.
It was an unimaginable efficiency, adopted up by a valiant effort in opposition to the Tennessee Titans within the subsequent spherical of the playoffs. The Steelers misplaced that recreation 34-31 in extra time. Maddox gave Pittsburgh loads to cheer for that 12 months.
If the Steelers get that type of productiveness out of Rodgers, they’ll in all probability be thrilled. They haven’t gained a playoff recreation because the 2016 season, so altering that would give Rodgers an opportunity to cross in Maddox in Steelers’ historical past, though that comeback in opposition to the Browns means loads.
Nonetheless, it is likely to be a attain to say that Rodgers gained’t be nearly as good as Maddox was. In 2002, Maddox’s stat-line wasn’t precisely elite. He threw for two,836 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions. In the present day, that type of manufacturing would seemingly lead to a tough season. There’s a superb probability that Rodgers can be higher statistically than Maddox, however which may not matter a lot to Steelers followers and not using a postseason win.
