Roethlisberger, Brady could headline one of Hall's greatest classes

CANTON, Ohio — The last time a quarterback with strong Pittsburgh ties was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it brought office equipment inside the gridiron museum to a stunning halt.

As news of Dan Marino’s election went public in 2005, the Hall was besieged with fans looking for enshrinement information. 

“We were using a fax machine and it ran out of paper constantly with people inquiring about how to get tickets,” said football historian Joe Horrigan, who serves as a special advisor to the HOF president. “When the tickets went on sale, we were sold out in minutes.”

The fine folks in Canton have five years to prepare for the potential arrival of another iconic Pittsburgh quarterback, and while information technology has advanced, the demand for Class of 2027 tickets could paralyze the Hall’s web server. That's what happens when Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady announce their retirements within a week of each other. Both are eligible to become first-ballot Hall of Famers in five years. They could be joined by tight end Rob Gronkowski and running back Adrian Peterson to form a mega-class for the ages.

There's little question, however, which two players would headline the group.

Only once in history have two quarterbacks from the same class entered the Hall on the first ballot — Marino and Steve Young in 2005. Brady, 44, and Roethlisberger, 39, would become part of the first HOF class to feature two passers with multiple Super Bowl titles. 

“When you say those names in one sentence that tells me perhaps — and I’m not being hyperbolic on this —it could be one of the greatest classes of all time,” said Newsday columnist Bob Glauber, one of the Hall-of-Fame selectors. “You’re talking about quarterback greatness, running back greatness. Gronk may be the best tight end ever. That would be an epic class, there’s no doubt. ... That could be among the best, if not the best, collections of talent in the history of the Hall of Fame.”

Fellow HOF selector Tony Grossi of ESPN-Cleveland agrees with his colleague. 

“It would be the greatest class in my 20-plus years of being a (voter),” Grossi said.

In its rich history, the Hall of Fame has never produced four first-ballot inductees in the same class, but that threshold could be crossed if Gronkowski and Peterson opt to call it quits. Gronkowski's career has been intertwined with that of Brady, a seven-time Super Bowl winner, and it's not hard to imagine the charismatic tight end pursuing interests in broadcasting and acting. Peterson, the league's fifth all-time leading rusher, had little impact in a four-game comeback last season with the Titans and Seahawks.

Heading into the weekend, the biggest intrigue surrounded the future of Brady after his Buccaneers were bounced from the NFC playoffs by the Rams. Despite his advanced age, the game's all-time leading passer enjoyed one of his finest statistical seasons. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Saturday that Brady was planning to end his career, and on Tuesday morning the quarterback made it official with a series of social media posts. 

Ironically, his last Twitter post before revealing his decision was one that congratulated Roethlisberger on his brilliant 18-year run.

Brady and Gronkowski would attract large crowds from New England and Florida. But drawing on his first-hand knowledge of how Steelers fans flock to the Hall for enshrinement ceremonies, Grossi made a prediction. 

“There probably will be more Steelers fans showing up for the (potential) induction than Patriots fans,” he said.

The 2027 class could get more star-studded if Saints coach Sean Payton, who resigned last week, does not return to the sideline. There’s plenty of speculation, however, that Payton will come back after taking a year or two hiatus. Other wildcards include J.J. Watt and Aaron Rodgers, although the latter figures to play at least one more season.

No class can have more than five modern-era players. There’s also a provision for one coach, one contributor and one senior finalist. Finalists must receive at least 80 percent approval from the 51-member selection committee. 

The Hall has had numerous classes of three first-ballot selections with the latest coming in 2021 with the elections of Calvin Johnson, Manning and Charles Woodson. But Glauber believes Brady, Roethlisberger, Gronkowski and Peterson are four “first-ballot Hall of Famers right off the bat.” Whether other selectors share his opinion is unclear. There’s always potential for finalists passed over in previous years to gain induction. 

Horrigan, who does not have a vote, offered a tantalizing black-and-gold option — former Steelers receiver Hines Ward, who was among the 26 semifinalists this year. One could only imagine the Yinzer turnout for a Roethlisberger-Ward daily double in 2027.

Glauber said it would be symbolic for Brady and Roethlisberger, 39, to be enshrined together. They spent much of the past two decades battling for Super Bowl berths. It’s no exaggeration to say Brady’s remarkable run with the Patriots probably cost the Steelers at least a few more shots at the Lombardi Trophy.

The Patriots defeated the Steelers, 41-27, in the 2004 AFC title game, which marked the end of Roethlisberger’s rookie season. The Patriots triumphed again, 36-17, in the 2016 AFC Championship Game after inventing a diabolical machine that made unheralded receiver Chris Hogan invisible to Steelers' defenders.  

Brady won nine of the 12 head-to-head matchups with Roethlisberger, including going 2-0 in the postseason.

“You just think of Ben Roesthlisberger and Tom Brady playing each other and competing for right to go to Super Bowls,” Glauber said. “It’s part of the fabric of that era, which, of course, also included Peyton Manning.”

Brady and Roethlisberger also weathered their share of controversy. Brady served a four-game league suspension in 2016 for his alleged role in Deflategate. Roethlisberger twice was accused of sexual assault by two different women in 2009 and 2010. The quarterback denied both accounts, but in 2010 he became the first player to be suspended under the league’s personal conduct policy without having been charged with a crime. His ban was reduced from six games to four games.

Former Steelers running back Merril Hoge told DK Pittsburgh Sports recently that Art Rooney II asked him to speak with Roethlisberger during that troubled period. 

“We went out on the deck and we talked,” Hoge recalled. “Ben said something like, ‘Merril, I appreciate you being here. I’ll take your guidance, your help, anything you can give me. But I’ve got myself in a mess and I’ve got to get myself out. At the end of the day, I don’t need to be in those places. I can’t be in that environment anymore.’ He didn’t point fingers or cast blame. The greatest story of accountability in recent Steelers history — and we’re talking off the field when you look at the fiber, the character, the person, the husband — is Ben Roethlisberger.” 

The Steelers’ talisman rebounded to produce one of the most prolific careers in NFL history, one that includes two Super Bowl titles and six Pro Bowl nominations. He ranks fifth in passing yards, eighth in touchdown passes and is tied for second in most game-winning drives.

Horrigan said a potential Brady-Roethlisberger-Gronkowski-Peterson class would “no doubt” rank among the Hall’s most high-profile groupings, but quickly cited several others. There’s the 1985 class of Joe Namath, Roger Staubach, O.J. Simpson, Pete Rozelle and Frank Gatski. He also mentioned the 2000 class of Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Howie Long, Dan Rooney and Dave Wilcox. 

A trained eye will spot the Western Pennsylvania connections in both classes.

“It’s not unique that we are going to have that quality of players going in the same year,” Horrigan said. “That will continue to go on ... There will be someone who surpasses Brady and Roethlisberger and whomever in a class. That’s just the way the game evolves. It’s getting more sophisticated and talented by the year.”

But within an hour of Schefter's report on Saturday, some Hall-of-Fame officials were speaking to each other about the awesome potential of the 2027 class. One said jokingly that they needed to resist "the temptation" of putting tickets on sale now. 

Needless to say, Steelers fans will want to reserve their seats the moment they become available. Don't even think of sending a fax.