DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum Ben makes it official

....to the surprise of no one.



PITTSBURGH -- After 18 seasons as the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement Thursday morning.

In a video posted to his Twitter account, Roethlisberger announced what became obvious over the final weeks of the 2021 season.

"The journey has been exhilarating, fueled by a spirit of competition," Roethlisberger said. "Yet the time has come to clean out my locker, hang up my cleats and continue to be all I can be to my wife and children. I retire from football a truly grateful man."

In a statement, Steelers president Art Rooney II said, "... we are forever grateful for all the success he has helped bring to the organization for the past 18 years. Ben will always be viewed as one of the all-time greats in our team history, and his determination, toughness and competitiveness will be remembered by everyone in the organization as well as Steeler Nation throughout the world."

Roethlisberger, 39, finished a likely Hall of Fame career with two Super Bowl wins, Rookie of the Year honors and the fifth-most passing yards (64,088) in NFL history.

Steelers' Passing Marks Belong to Big Ben

Ben Roethlisberger retires as the most accomplished quarterback in Steelers history when it comes to his passing numbers.

"When I think about you, you identify and you represent everything a Pittsburgh Steeler is. You played with grit, determination and a degree of toughness. I congratulate you on a job well done and without a doubt, I will see you in Canton. Kudos," former Steelers coach Bill Cowher said in a video tweeted by the team.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that Roethlisberger will be eligible for selection in 2027.

"I've been here a long time, and it's been a lot of fun," Roethlisberger said after his final game, a wild-card game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. "God has blessed me. We joke a lot about the Browns and going in there, but it was meant to be that I was going to wear black and gold. Draft day I had a black suit with a gold tie. I'm just so thankful.

"I hope that I'm able to pass the legacy of what it is to be a Steeler from Dan Rooney. ... So hopefully I can pass some of that on to some of the guys that can continue the tradition of what it means to be a Steeler and get passed down."

Drafted by the franchise 11th overall in 2004, Roethlisberger took over the starting job for an injured Tommy Maddox against the Ravens in Week 2 of his rookie season. He led the Steelers to a 15-1 regular-season record before losing to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.

Roethlisberger won his first Super Bowl a year later against the Seattle Seahawks. He won another three years later, defeating the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on his game-winning touchdown throw to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left. He finished his career with a franchise-record 165 regular-season victories, fifth most in NFL history. He also earned a .670 regular-season winning percentage as a starting quarterback, the second highest in franchise history and sixth highest in NFL history.

"Ben has always been a fighter," teammate Cam Heyward said. "Always given us a chance. He's battled a lot. He's been rewarded with two Super Bowls, but we needed every bit of Ben Roethlisberger in every game he's played. You can't just replicate that."

Good riddance.

The only thoughts I have on him will get me permanently banned.

Well ... bye.

Me too,, maybe.
I think this board, must have some closet, unwilling to admit they like em, steeler fans,
Which is disturbing, that silently love this guy. No surprise, I guess, that this board has a bran new thread on that most disturbing player who, let's face it, was rarely very good. I don't really give a dirt, what he did, but,
to be fair I don't live in east ohio where maybe this stuff is pedaled as local. his career can rest in maneur, as far as I care.
He Sucks!!! and I hope his voice falls out, so he can never do broadcasts without using sign language. And I'm not even sure what the thread title means because I ain't reading dirt about that ' ' ' ' '.

Like him or not, he was a darn good QB and I still wonder what would have happened had we drafted him.

Glad to never have to see his bloated face again on the field. Hopefully he crawls out of a hole in five years to get his stupid jacket, then slinks away again. Never to be seen again.

He’d have been ruined by our disfunction. And his rape record would be a stain on our team. Glad we didn’t draft the creep.

If one looks strictly at his ability to play the QB position he was very good in his day. There's certainly no denying that.

Rumor at the time was he was going to sit out the season or force a trade if we drafted him.

I heard stuff to that effect, as well, but only heard it as rumor. There was casual talk that he was never a CLE fan (tho he grew up in Ohio), followed the Broncos (? maybe?)... and expressly didn't want to play here.

But that was only rumor.
I write this only to confirm that your memory matches mine.

There was some talk.

https://preview.redd.it/11br73ejwne...8f04d3f912142f145386e4a1c0644109a0b67eaf

Best newspaper article title I ever saw lol

Maybe so. In the end we don't know, but I'll add I doubt it.

We went Kellen Winslow. I would have rather swapped Pervs and gone with Ben.

That is hilarious