List of top 40 quarterbacks puts Ben Roethlisberger at No. 6

Joe Rutter
Thursday, June 27, 2019 5:31 p.m. | Thursday, June 27, 2019 5:31 p.m.

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger throws during OTA work outs Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex.

Ben Roethlisberger made an appearance on a quarterback rankings list that already generated some controversy before his inclusion on it.

Chris Simms, a former NFL quarterback and current NBC analyst, unveiled the final six spots on his Top 40 list this week with Roethlisberger accompanying the No. 6 position.

Ranked ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers veteran passer were Houston’s DeShaun Watson at No. 5, Indianapolis’ Andrew Luck at No. 4, Seattle’s Russell Wilson at No. 3, Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes at No. 2 and Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers at No. 1.

6⃣ is @_BigBen7. Can make throws that only a few guys can make. Probably the best downfield thrower right now. #steelers #bigben #simmsqbranks pic.twitter.com/cH82XyIWVy

— Chris Simms (@CSimmsQB) June 25, 2019

Roethlisberger has won two Super Bowls – the same as Simms’ top five combined. Rodgers and Wilson have won one apiece. Roethlisberger also led the NFL in passing yards in 2018. Rodgers threw only two interceptions but, like Roethlisberger, didn’t guide his team to the playoffs.

Simms’ list generated controversy last week when he ranked Tom Brady at No. 9 and Drew Brees at No. 10. Falling in between Roethlisberger and Brady is Matt Ryan at No. 7 and Cam Newton at No. 8. Simms and former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner traded Twitter barbs about where Brady and Brees were ranked.

Simply bc when u put Brady and Brees 9 & 10 it just takes all credibility from list... no way to defend that except by making stuff up: the system, great coaches & players, blah blah blah!!

— Kurt Warner (@kurt13warner) June 21, 2019

“The whole Top 10 is nitpicking,” Simms said in a statement released by NBC Sports. “These are All-Stars and great players, but as awesome I think Mahomes is, I think that if Aaron Rodgers was on the Chiefs in the AFC championship game, that they would have won that game.

“These are my two favorite quarterbacks in football. It was a very tough call, but I’m still not ready to relinquish the title from Aaron Rodgers.”

Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at jrutter@triblive.com.