Ben Roethlisberger reiterated Tuesday that his commitment to the Pittsburgh Steelers does not run any further than this upcoming season.
Speaking with reporters on the first day of OTAs, Roethlisberger made it clear that he did not give Art Rooney more than a one-year commitment, per Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Fittipaldo also said Roethlisberger “sidestepped other questions about retirement.”
As most are likely aware, Big Ben gave some serious thought to retirement this past offseason. He was extremely disheartened after the Steelers were so handily dispatched by the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game and said he needed to think long and hard about whether he wanted to continue playing.
Recently, Roethlisberger said he wasn’t willing to say he’d commit past the upcoming year, and his statement Tuesday highlights the fact that this really could be the last year he plays. Obviously, at the age of 35 and after having endured so many big hits over the course of his career, retirement is not far away.
Hopefully Josh Dobbs is a quick study. The rookie quarterback out of Tennessee is the most promising option Pittsburgh currently has if Roethlisberger is injured or does retire after this season. With that in mind, the team’s window to win another title is about as slim as it gets.