The NFL had some groundbreaking announcements in the past few weeks. The lineup for Super Bowl 56 was set and two of the most influential quarterbacks in league history announced their retirements.
While we all saw the warning signs and indicators leading up to the old QBs stepping down, with multiple interviews indicating other factors in their lives leading them to step away, it will be a difficult adjustment for many fans who will watch an NFL without Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady.
It seems to mark the end of the NFL in which we grew up. Great quarterbacks, such as Brees, both Mannings Tony Romo retired while Big Ben and Brady remained. While I will admit to never being a huge fan of either, their official retirement just seems weird.
Growing up, they were the best, and their records prove it. I begrudgingly watched them compete and win Super Bowl after Super Bowl. When I heard the retirement announcements, I instantly celebrated, but we can’t forget the legacy they are leaving. They are the two of the winningest quarterbacks in league history, with Roethlisberger at 165 and Brady 278. Their longevity and success is, frankly, awe-inspiring. When we watch Sunday Night Football, not seeing them on a fairly regular basis will seem strange, just as it was when the other generation of greats stepped back.
This is the time for the new quarterbacks to step up and challenge those records. We are lucky enough to be in the generation that saw the very best. Now, we’ll see who’s next. Perhaps the two in this year’s Super Bowl.
Joe Burrow has only two pro seasons under his belt. The 25-year-old LSU grad is just barely out of the top 10 for youngest quarterbacks in Super Bowl history. This is partially due to his five years playing in college and a late start in the league. Having such a young quarterback in the mix for a championship shows how the tides are changing. A more youthful, fresher start to the NFL is upon us. Burrow managed to lead the Bengals to their first Super Bowl in 33 years, with this being their chance for a first win.
Matthew Stafford is the other quarterback competing for the Lombardi Trophy this year, and while he isn’t as young, his appearance indicates a shift. Stafford was a Detroit Lion for most of his career with many ups and downs. After moving to the Rams last year, he led a dramatic winning streak bringing him to his first-ever Super Bowl. Once again, this just shows how the NFL is shifting for younger teams. The Rams have been to four Super Bowls and won one.
With names like Roethlisberger and Tom Brady out of the picture, does that push teams like the Steelers, Patriots and Bucs to the side? I hope so. I want to see a league where it’s anyone’s game. No more dreadful games where you just know the Patriots or, as his move to the Buccaneers proved, Tom Brady will win. Now, the field has opened. Everyone has a real shot. We can watch Super Bowls and cheer for unlikely teams; none more unlikely than the Bengals and a young quarterback who is creating his own legacy.
