Super Bowl XLV: The Legend of Joe Montana Lives on As Ben Roethlisberger Falls

Joe Montana is widely considered to be the greatest quarterback of all time.

He was undefeated in the Super Bowl and remains the only three-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. More importantly, Joe Montana was perfect in the biggest football game of the season.

In four Super Bowl appearances, Montana completed 86 out of 122 passes for 1,142 yards to go along with 11 touchdown passes and zero interceptions for a Super Bowl quarterback rating of 127.8. Montana also added two rushing touchdowns to his already amazing stat line.  

Montana, along with Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman, were the only quarterbacks to have won at least three Super Bowl titles while never having lost in the big game.

On Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had a chance to join this elite company. A win would have given Big Ben three titles in seven seasons.

Roethlisberger, who reminds people of a bigger version of Denver Broncos legend John Elway with his mobility in the pocket and ability to keep plays alive, pulled off a little Elway magic in Super Bowl XLIII when he led the Steelers down field and hit wide receiver Santonio Holmes in the corner of the end zone with :35 seconds left to play.

Although he wasn't considered an elite quarterback, perhaps because of the Steelers defense, Roethlisberger had a chance to join Montana, Bradshaw and Aikman in their elite group of undefeated quarterbacks with at least three Super Bowl titles. A win would also tie Big Ben with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as the only current quarterbacks to have three Super Bowl rings.

Then Super Bowl Sunday happened.

Roethlisberger, who will never have the prestigious stat line that Joe Montana had, fired a crucial interception on the first play of Steelers' third drive, which resulted in a Nick Collins interception return for a touchdown. The end result was the interception put Pittsburgh down 14-0 and the Steelers played catch-up the rest of the game.

Big Ben struck again with his second interception in the second quarter, this one to Packer corner back Jarrett Bush. The interception was Roethlisberger's fifth in three Super Bowls. Four plays later, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hit wide receiver Greg Jennings down the middle of the field, putting Green Bay up 21-3.

Despite three turnovers, the Steelers had one final shot to win Super Bowl XLV. With 1:59 left to play, the Steelers were 87-yards away from bringing home their seventh title in franchise history, but on 4th-and-5 from their own 33-yard line, Roethlisberger's pass to receiver Mike Wallace was high and tipped off the hands and fell incomplete. Game over, the legend of Joe Montana lives on.

Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger have all been labeled as clutch quarterbacks. Brady and Manning are often mentioned as two of the best quarterbacks not only of their time, but of all time; yet, none will ever best the great Joe Montana.

No matter how many titles they win, they were never undefeated like Montana. They've thrown interceptions and, in some cases, game-ending interceptions like Manning did in last year's Super Bowl against the New Orleans Saints.

Every time it seems that a quarterback may threaten the legacy of Joe Montana, in some shape, way or form, they fall short.

Yes, they may own the individual or career stats records like passing yards, attempts, completions, rushing yards or quarterback rating for a single game; yet, they will never match the greatness that was Joe Montana.

So here's to you Joe Montana, the greatest and most clutch Super Bowl quarterback who ever played the game.