Aaron Rodgers passes Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger in career passing yards, moves to fifth all-time

Aaron Rodgers passed the all time record Steelers legend c. NFL record books. Rodgers, current Pittsburgh quarterback, passed by Ben Roethlisberger tied for his fifth career passing yardage during Thursday night's game against Bengals.

Rodgers, who recently passed former teammate Brett Favre for fourth all-time career touchdown pass, is now second only to Tom BradyDrew Brees Peyton Manning and Favre in career passing yards. That's quite a feat considering Rodgers spent his first three NFL seasons as Favre's backup in Green Bay. He then missed virtually the entire 2023 season with an Achilles injury in Week 1.

Rodgers is the first quarterback to pass Roethlisberger in passing yards since Roethlisberger retired at the end of the 2021 season. He passed Big Ben at a distance of 15 yards and Jaylen Warren just before the two-minute warning Thursday night.

NFL all-time leaders

** — Roethlisberger's transfer yards on the all-time list.

A six-time Pro Bowler, Roethlisberger ranks eighth in his career in passing yards. He was the 2004 Offensive Rookie of the Year after going 12-0 as Pittsburgh's regular-season starter. The following season, Roethlisberger became the youngest starting quarterback to win the tournament. Super Bowl and also the first in Super Bowl as the sixth seeded team.

In 2008, Roethlisberger won his second ring after throwing the game-winning touchdown pass. Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLIII. Two years later, he and the Steelers lost to Rodgers. Packers it ultimately was Pittsburgh's last Super Bowl appearance with Roethlisberger under center.

Although he never won a title again, Roethlisberger did have some memorable moments in the second half of his career, where he was much more productive than he was in the early years of his career.

He won his first passing title in 2014, becoming the first quarterback to throw six touchdown passes in consecutive games. The following season, he led the NFL in passing average per game for the second year in a row, nearly leading Pittsburgh to an upset victory over the eventual champions. Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs.

In 2017, Roethlisberger became the first quarterback to have three career games with at least 500 yards passing after throwing for 506 yards in a win over the Crows. A year later, he won his second passing title, joining Brady, Manning, Brees, Stafford, Dan Marino and Patrick Mahomes as the only quarterbacks in history to that point to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season.

Pittsburgh is trying to find a long-term replacement for Roethlisberger. since his retirement in January 2022. While Rodgers may not be Pittsburgh's long-term answer, the 41-year-old is playing at a level the Steelers haven't seen at quarterback since Big Ben hung up his boots.

The Steelers hope Rodgers can parlay his success into the franchise's first playoff appearance since Roethlisberger helped Pittsburgh beat the team. Managers in the 2016 divisional round.