Roethlisberger officially announces his retirement

Ben Roethlisberger has officially announced his retirement from the NFL.

Through a video posted on his social networks, the quarterback who spent his entire 18-season NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, announced his official farewell to the gridiron.

“I don’t know how to put into words what the game of ‘soccer has meant, and what a blessing it has been. Although I know, with confidence, that I have given everything to the game, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all that it has given me. A kid from Findlay, Ohio, with NFL dreams, developed at Oxford, Miami University, blessed with the honor of 18 seasons as a Pittsburgh Steeler, and a place to call home. The journey has been exciting, defined by relationships and driven by the spirit of competition. But, the time has come to empty my locker, hang up my shoes, and continue to be all that I can be for my wife and children. I retire from soccer a truly grateful man.

“First and foremost, I must thank the Lord for the many blessings he has allowed me. To my wife Ashley, our children Benjamin, Bailee and Bodie, they lift me up and inspire me, and give purpose to my life. I am so grateful for your love and support. I love them so much. To my parents and sister, every step of the way, and support and love has pushed me to be the best and never give up. To the Rooney family, the Tull family, Coach [Mike] Tomlin, Coach [Bill] Cowher, and all the coaches who have poured themselves into me, the amazing people at all levels that make the Pittsburgh Steelers a special organization, thank you for believing in me and allowing me to battle alongside you, in the pursuit of excellence. To all my teammates, and the endless friendships I have gained, I appreciate you and our shared commitment to wear the black and gold with pride and dignity. Putting on that jersey every Sunday with my brothers will always be one of the great joys of my life. To Steeler Nation, the best fans in any sport, thank you for accepting and supporting me as your quarterback over the years. Soccer has been a gift, and I thank God for allowing me to play it, surrounding me with great people and protecting me to the end. With love and honor.”

In his farewell video, Roethlisberger is shown emptying his locker, interspersed with footage of some of the most memorable moments of his career.

Roethlisberger bids farewell as one of the most iconic players to ever walk on the Steelers’ roster, regardless of position. He was a quarterback drafted in the first round, No. 11 overall, in the 2004 NFL Draft out of Miami University (Ohio).

Over the course of 18 seasons at the helm of the club, Roethlisberger held virtually all of the team’s records for the quarterback position. ‘Big Ben’ retires with 5,440 pass completions out of 8,443 attempts for 64,088 yards with 418 touchdown passes against 211 regular-season interceptions.

He was elected to the Pro Bowl six times, and earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2004. He led the league in yards per pass twice in his career, in the 2014 and 2018 campaigns.

In playoffs, Roethlisberger completed 498 of 788 pass attempts, with 36 touchdowns against 28 interceptions. He led the Steelers to three Super Bowl appearances, triumphing in the XL and XLIII editions, and falling in the XLV edition.

Roethlisberger ranks fifth on the all-time list for yards per pass in league history and eighth on the all-time list for touchdown passes.

The official announcement of Roethlisberger’s retirement comes as no surprise after he said, prior to his Week 17 game against the Cleveland Browns, that “all signs point to the fact that it could be'” his last game at Heinz Field. At the conclusion of that game, the quarterback took a lap around the field to say goodbye to Pittsburgh fans.

In the AFC Wild Card Round, where Pittsburgh traveled to face the Kansas City Chiefs, a raucous contingent of Steelers fans who made the pilgrimage to Arrowhead lined up behind the Steelers bench with signs of “thank you, Ben” and “thank you, No. 7” from two hours before kickoff until the final second of a disappointing night had run out on the clock. One group carried four huge images of Roethlisberger’s head that they displayed at various times during the game.

Prior to the game against the Chiefs, Roethlisberger said, “I would assume, as a group, you understand that we probably shouldn’t be here. We’re probably not a very good soccer team. Of the 14 teams that are in, I think we’re probably No. 14. We’re probably going to be underdogs by 20 points, and we’re going against the best team. I know they’re not the top team in the seeding, obviously, but they’re the No. 1 team that’s won the AFC in the last couple of years, probably the best team in the league.”

The Steelers fell 42-21 in what was confirmed as Roethlisberger’s final professional game.

In Roethlisberger’s 18 professional campaigns as a quarterback, the Steelers never had a losing season.

Roethlisberger’s retirement is confirmed at a time when two other quarterbacks, future Hall of Famers Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, are contemplating a farewell to the NFL.