Courtney Balcombe

Creativity Editor

clb6264@psu.edu

Although it hasn’t been an official announcement, Steelers’ quarterback Ben Rothlisberger may retire at the end of the season. He had shared in a December 2021 press conference that “looking at the bigger picture, I would say that all signs are pointing to this could be it,” Big Ben shared. “Regular season, that is … but in the grand scheme of things, in terms of regular season, signs are pointing that way, this could be it.”

Roethlisberger has been playing football since 1999 at Findlay High in Ohio as a QB. A few years later, in 2001 until 2003, he played as the Redhawk’s starter.

According to The Washington Post, in 2004 Roethlisberger was surprised when the Pittsburgh Steelers selected him with the draft’s 11 pick after several quarterback-needy teams — including his home-state Cleveland Browns — passed on him. During his first season, Pittsburgh won all 13 games with him as their starter and finished 15-1 but they later lost at home to the New England Patriots in the American Football Conference championship game.

In the second season, Roethlisberger had missed four games due to a knee injury but led the Steelers to three playoff upsets. Pittsburgh then defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 21-10, in Super Bowl XL, even though Roethlisberger had one of the worst statistical performances of any quarterback to win the NFL title. Still, at 23-year-old, he became the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

Later in 2008, Roethlisberger signed a new eight year contract and led the Steelers to another Super Bowl win against the Arizona Cardinals, 27-23. According to The Washington Post, following the season in 2009, a hotel employee in Lake Tahoe filed a report and lawsuit stating he had sexually assaulted her. By 2011 they were able to reach a settlement. Later in 2010 The Washington Post continued that Roethlisberger was accused again by a 20-year-old college student, but due to lack of DNA the prosecutor declined the claim. He was still suspended by the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the first six games of the season over violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy. However, Goodell changed it to the first four games. Once he returned by the fifth game, he helped the Steelers to a 9-3 record as a starter. The Steelers advanced to their third Super Bowl in six seasons but lost to the Green Bay Packers, 31-25.

In more recent seasons, Roethlisberger was unable to play after an injury in 2019 which ended his season after the second game. Then in 2020, in the first round of the playoffs against Cleveland, he completed an NFL-record of 47 passes and threw for 501 yards and four touchdowns, but he also threw four interceptions in a 48-37 loss. After the game, he shared that he will think about whether he will return in 2021.

However, that was not the end for Roethlisberger as he returned for 2021 after signing a renegotiated one-year contract in March, he returned for his 18th season amid talk that it will be his last. The Steelers’ home finale against the Browns on Jan. 3, he shared “all signs” are pointing to it being his final game at Heinz Field. The Steelers barely made the playoffs after beating the Ravens in Week 18.

After the42-21 loss against the Chiefs on January 16, Roethlisberger seemed to have announced his retirement in his final post-game speech.

“I’m proud to play with these guys,” Roethlisberger said. “God has blessed me with an ability to throw football and has blessed me to play in the greatest city in Pittsburg with the greatest fans and the greatest football team. And it has just been truly a blessing. And I am so thankful to him for the opportunity that’s been given to me.”

During Roethlisberger’s final game, his results showed 29/44, 215 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions. While the loss was disappointing, he spent his time with the media focusing more on his journey than the issues faced on the field. While he didn’t officially state his retirement, he did share that he is ready to move onto the next chapter in his life.

“I’ve been here a long time,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s been a lot of fun … It was meant to be that I was gonna wear black and gold. … I’m just so thankful. I hope I was able to pass the legacy of what it is to be a Steeler. … Hopefully I can pass some of that on to some of the guys, and the tradition of what it means to be a Steeler can get passed down.”

According to The Athletic, going into retirement, Roethlisberger will retire as the franchise leader in wins, 165, passing yards 64,303, passing touchdowns, 420, attempts, 8,487, completions, 5,469, and completion percentage at 64.5 percent.