Two of the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ greatest quarterbacks are locking horns over something that has nothing to do with football wins or losses. The competition between Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger was never a secret. But their latest moves show they are taking their rivalry into a completely different arena, the kitchen.​

Bradshaw recently reposted on Instagram that the “Steelers Nation is waiting for the biggest cook-off,” displaying two cookbooks side by side. On the left sits “Footbahlin’ Official Cookbook Volume 2,” featuring Ben Roethlisberger, released in August. On the right is “The Bradshaw Family Cookbook,” released on September 16, with Bradshaw posing for the cover.

Bradshaw’s cookbook is a family project, featuring his wife, Tammy; daughters Rachel Bradshaw and Lacey Hester; and son-in-law, Noah Hester, an award-winning chef who helped develop the recipes. The book offers nearly 100 dishes inspired by generations of Bradshaw family cooking, from his grandmother Hoodie Baby’s Southern roots to Tammy’s Missouri-style comfort food. It’s designed for all kinds of occasions, tailgates, family dinners, or quick weekday meals, and filled with personal touches and stories that give it the warmth of a true family table.

Roethlisberger’s “Footbahlin’ Official Cookbook Volume 2,” on the other hand, grows out of his “Footbahlin’” podcast with musician and producer Spencer Te’o. Each chapter is inspired by cities from the Steelers’ schedule, blending regional flavors with football themes and stories from Roethlisberger’s career. The cookbook follows the podcast’s easygoing spirit, part storytelling, part game-day cooking, and a lot of camaraderie over good food and beer.

It eventually evolved to include guest interviews with current and former players and coaches. This included Kenny Pickett, Jerome Bettis, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin. During the 2023 season, the podcast incorporated Roethlisberger and Te’o watching various Steelers games and providing live commentary.

By turning their post-football ventures into competing cookbooks, the two quarterbacks have found a new way to stir the pot– literally and figuratively. And behind the lighthearted competition lies a relationship that’s been anything but easy.

Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger are keeping the competition alive

The history between these two icons runs deep and complicated. Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw has been openly critical of Roethlisberger’s off-field behavior. In 2010, Bradshaw told reporters that after he warned Roethlisberger to “park the motorcycle,” the younger quarterback “got pissed” when he later brought up the issue. Bradshaw said he later realized that warning Roethlisberger was justified after a serious bike accident. But he added that since then, “he doesn’t like me, and I’m learning not to like him.”

According to Bradshaw, even when they’ve run into each other at events or during interviews, the relationship hasn’t warmed. Bradshaw painted a picture of someone who keeps their distance, noting that Roethlisberger addresses him only as “Mr. Bradshaw” in the media. Roethlisberger has never engaged in a real conversation with him directly.

Things seemed to shift in 2020 when Terry Bradshaw appeared on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. Bradshaw reported that they had their best interview together that year. Bradshaw told Cowherd that Roethlisberger was “relaxed, jovial, fun to be with” during that sit-down. He sounded hopeful that they could move past their issues over what he called “off-the-field stuff”. But that optimism clearly didn’t stick around.

The public jab from Bradshaw shows that the friendly feelings from 2020 have long since faded. By teasing a “Let’s Cook” between two cookbooks released by legends who have never quite managed to get along, Bradshaw is keeping the competitive fire burning, just in a different way than their playing days ever allowed.