As if we didn’t already know, longtime Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is retiring after an 18-year career that will likely land him in the Hall-of-Fame. While there’s no word if he’s filed his official retirement papers yet, Big Ben is retiring.
On Thursday morning, BigBen7.com shared a short heartfelt video with Roethlisberger providing the voiceover speaking about retiring from the game he loves.
For Roethlisberger it wraps up a memorable career that saw him win two Super Bowls with the Steelers, the only NFL franchise he ever played for.
Roethlisberger entered the league from Miami (OH) as the 11th selection in the 2004 NFL Draft and proceeded to earn seven Pro Bowl appearances and was the NFL’s passing yards leader twice. Big Ben’s career win-loss record in the regular season is 165-81-1. He also has a 13-10 record in the playoffs, including in 2009 when the Steelers entered the postseason as a Wild Card team before winning SB XLIII.
There’s no telling what Roethlisberger will turn to now that his playing days are done, but at least he’s able to leave on his own terms.
How will the Steelers fare without Ben Roethlisberger?
Coach Mike Tomlin has never started an NFL season without Ben Roethlisberger as his starting quarterback. In 2022, he will.
The current QBs on the Steelers roster include Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins. Yet, the Steelers are expected to add more competition at the position this offseason, whether it’s via the draft or free agency. With two veterans already on hand, they could look to select a rookie and let the best man win.
Or, the much more intriguing option is landing an established veteran quarterback elsewhere. With players such as Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson all expected to be available this offseason, they should have plenty of choices to select from. With Tomlin and a good defense on hand, the Steelers figure to be leading competitors for any of the top options that may become available.
