Tom Brady retired. But not yet.

If he waits until Feb. 4, Brady gets a deferred signing-bonus payment of $15 million. Tampa Bay could try to recoup some or all of that. But the Buccaneers likely feel Brady delivered proper value. Brady earned about $293 million playing football. But we could all use an extra $15 mil. (Brady’s wife is also a good earner.)

Brady’s impending retirement upstages Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement. Roethlisberger got the spotlight to himself for about 48 hours.

Brady is a definite first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. Roethlisberger is very likely in that regard. Both will become eligible for the Hall in 2027.

Brady’s five-year waiting period should be waived. No choice has ever been more obvious.

Brady was 2-0 vs. Roethlisberger in playoff games. Given the quality of both their teams during their overlapping tenures, you would figure them to meet in the postseason more often.

My take on Roethlisberger’s retirement was succinctly stated on Twitter:

“Ben = Steelers best QB ever. Ben = one of three most important people in Steelers history. W/o Ben, Bettis = Buckner. W/o Ben, you’re still talking about the ’70s. There is no overstating what Ben did.”

Anything else is overkill.

But Brady was even better. Duh.

Brady will be remembered as one of the few superstar athletes who didn’t play a year (or more) too long. Like Roethlisberger did, despite his six fourth-quarter comebacks this season.

Guile and guts were the extent of Roethlisberger’s arsenal in his final season. His stats were meh, and he didn’t look the part.

It’s hard to keep waxing poetic about Roethlisberger’s retirement. He suggested it was likely before his final home game, then essentially had three “last” games: That home game vs. Cleveland, the Week 18 visit to Baltimore and the unexpected bonus finale at Kansas City in the playoffs.

His official announcement this past Thursday surprised no one.

Brady’s retirement was always possible, but more unexpected, and still isn’t official.

Brady is the greatest quarterback ever: seven Super Bowl championships, 10 appearances in that game, five Super Bowl MVPs and three NFL MVPs.

Aaron Rodgers is likely to pick up his fourth NFL MVP this season. But he has one ring. How could Rodgers get more MVPs than Brady? It shows the capricious nature of such awards.

Brady’s retirement guarantees that Rodgers will play next season. Rodgers’ ego won’t allow him to be overshadowed by Brady on the stage at Canton.

The subject of theoretical Mt. Rushmore groupings is overwrought and too often discussed.

But the Mt. Rushmore of American sports is Muhammad Ali, Brady, Michael Jordan and Babe Ruth: Each at least arguably the best at his sport, but possessing star quality that transcended their performances. (Brady is the most borderline of the four in that regard. Tiger Woods might push him off.)

The Steelers’ Mt. Rushmore is Terry Bradshaw, Joe Greene, Chuck Noll and Roethlisberger. The Rooneys founded and owned the team, but all that requires is money. The team was terrible under Art Sr.’s stewardship. (You could make a legitimate argument for Dan.)

Debating Bradshaw vs. Roethlisberger is wearisome. Both were great.

Bradshaw won four Super Bowls when the NFL didn’t use a salary cap and was better in Super Bowls, earning two MVPs in that game. Roethlisberger won twice in a capped era, had better numbers and seemed a superior technician.

A better discussion: Who is the Steelers’ third-best quarterback ever?

A poll to that end was posted by Trib assistant sports editor Jonathan Bombulie and was voted on 2,024 times. The winner was Kordell Stewart with 51.2% of the ballots. I chose Neil O’Donnell, who guided the Steelers to Super Bowl XXX but threw three interceptions en route to losing that game.

By this time next year, the correct answer will be Mason Rudolph.

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