Ben Roethlisberger was one of the longest serving quarterbacks in the NFL, so it was only a matter of time before he decided to hang up his boots once and for all.
A meek showing against the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs this season, in which Big Ben only threw for 215 yards, was the last game that the soon-to-be 40-year-old would have before staring retirement in the face.
This game would not define the 18-year veteran as a whole, however. Here, we examine some of the key moments in a career filled with ups and downs, but mostly milestones.
The Steelers must get back into the Super Bowl mix, by doing much more than simply scraping into the playoffs each season, only to be bounced in the first round.
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2004 – Big Ben’s Breakout Year
Roethlisberger was not supposed to become a starting QB until some point in 2005 or even 2006, but the stars aligned thanks to a hit on then starting QB Tommy Maddox, and Roethlisberger was given his big chance.
He went on to narrowly lose the game in which he replaced Maddox, but made up for it by winning his next fourteen games in a row, smashing NFL rookie records along the way and surprising bookmakers all over the world. Although that season was ultimately soured by New England, Big Ben’s reputation as a franchise quarterback had been cemented in less than one complete season, with his Super Bowl winning odds at sportsbook providers being slashed ahead of the 2005 campaign.
Now, Caesars sportsbook are now backing fresh faced QBs like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow as a new era of quarterbacks roll in.
The city of Pittsburgh will miss its franchise QB, but his departure leaves the door open for a new chapter to be written by a fresh young leader.
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2005 and 2008 – Super Bowl Triumphs
Realizing he had to strike while the iron was hot, Roethlisberger followed up his scorching rookie season with a Super Bowl crown in 2005, and then repeated the feat in 2008. Although his personal numbers in the 2008 showpiece were nothing to write home about, he came good on the final clutch drive of the game, marching the Steelers 88 yards before finally putting a nail in Arizona’s coffin with a pinpoint TD pass to his go-to receiver Santonio Holmes.
Final Game at Heinz Field
While Roethlisberger has dealt with several off-the-field issues over his career, perhaps the only things that stand between him and a place in the NFL Hall of Fame, Big Ben's on-the-field achievements speak for themselves. We've seen the 18-year veteran mature into the family man he is today, as well as a Super Bowl caliber winning QB, and all of Pittsburgh is appreciative of it. This was expressed by the crowd at Heinz Field during the last game of the regular season last month as "Thank You, Ben" chants echoed throughout the stadium.
What was your favorite Big Ben moment throughout his career? Click to comment below!
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