Today marks one week since the Pittsburgh Steelers lost in the Wild Card round to the Kansas City Chiefs. Time goes on, but the pain of losing in the Wild Card round two years in a row never seems to really go away.
To make matters worse, reports began to surface back in December that 18-year veteran quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was likely to retire at the end of the 2021-2022 season. The reports started to gain traction as the season began to wind down and barring an unforeseen miracle, it seems as if Roethlisberger has played his final game as a Pittsburgh Steeler.
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The statistics and accolades Roethlisberger amassed over his career are endless, but below are a handful that really define Roethlisberger's career in the black and gold:
- Two-time Super Bowl Champion
- 8-time AFC North Champion
- Career win percentage of 66.9% (5th all-time in NFL history)
- 53 game winning drives (2nd all-time in NFL history)
- 41 fourth quarter comebacks (3rd all-time in NFL history)
- 64,088 passing yards (5th all-time in NFL history)
We could fill an entire article with nothing but Roethlisberger accolades, but these specific ones truly speak to what his legacy is. He came in and did nothing but win over his 18-year Hall of Fame career. It wasn't always the prettiest, Roethlisberger will be the first to admit that, but at the end of the game the Steelers were on the right side of the scoreboard more times than not.
A lot of the writers for SteelerNation.com had time to digest Roethlisberger's career over the past week and below are their favorite memories over the past two decades:
Justin McGonigle: "My favorite Ben moment. Gosh there's so many. Obviously the Super Bowls. I can't even think straight right now after that game, but for me, I was in Cincinnati for the Wild Card game in 2015. Ben is out with a dislocated shoulder. He comes back in the game, leads that unbelievable comeback. Bengals fans riot. It was amazing."
Brandon Wallace (B-Wall): "It's got to be Super Bowl XLIII for me. Big Ben to Santonio Holmes in the back corner of the end zone to seal it. Two feet down of course. Not sure which was better, the catch or the throw. Regardless, really special moment. #ThankYou7!"
Jonathan Clark: "It’s hard to choose one moment to describe the legacy of Big Ben Roethlisberger. I have seen many miraculous comebacks during his 18-year career, all of them different in their own way. The absolute most iconic moment for Roethlisberger had to be in Super Bowl XLIII, where he led the Steelers offense on a game winning touchdown drive to bring a Lombardi trophy home to Pittsburgh. Everyone remembers the throw to Santonio Holmes in the back of the end zone that sealed the win and rightfully so, but prior to that, Roethlisberger, after starting the drive out on his own 10-yard line, drove the ball 75 yards down the field and put this team in a position to win the game, doing all of this with just over 2 minutes left. I’ll never forget watching that game live, nervous to the core, up until that moment I saw the Lombardi Trophy in Big Ben's hands. All I can say is thank you Ben, from all of SteelerNation. We truly never would have wanted anyone else under center for these past 18 years."
Ben Michaelian: "Favorite game probably the 2008 Week 5 game. Sunday Night Football at Jacksonville. Typical Steelers game where it starts ugly, Ben turns it on, and back ups step up. This game involved another Roethlisberger game winning drive, consisting of a big first down with a defender draped all over him. The game winning TD was a Hines Ward fade route. Of course, this game was a part of their Super Bowl 43 winning season."
Bill Washinski: "No particular order:
1. 2004 draft. Finally hearing the name not of just a QB but the one QB I wanted most, not just in the great 2004 draft, but in the 20 years of drafts desperately wanting us to draft a franchise QB.
2. 2005 AFCCG—After all the AFCCG failures to see, Ben get us over that hump with ease. It was like 1997 vs. Broncos vs. Steelers had roles reversed. Arguably his best postseason game (that was a win).
3. Ben to Santonio. Nuff said.
4. 5 TDs in first half on MNF vs. Ravens when Harrison overshadowed him.
5. Back to Back 6 TDs with 862 yards passing 2014—including the highest of his career—522 vs. Andrew Luck. It was over 50 points."
Chris Magnum: "My favorite Ben memory is this fake spike from a few years ago. Odd choice but before this game, I had never really been into pro football and it’s what got me watching Steeler football more and turned me into both an NFL and a Steelers fan."
C.J. Lester: "My favorite Ben moment has to be the touchdown saving shoestring tackle in the 2005 playoffs on Nick Harper. If not for that tackle, the Steelers don't go on to win Super Bowl XL. He saved the season and helped 'The Bus' go out on top!"
Matt Papiernik: "It definitely has to be Week 14 in 2017 against the Ravens. It was a home game at Heinz Field, and it was a classic hard fought Steelers/Ravens rivalry game. Ben threw for over 500 yards and set up a game winning Boswell field goal with a pass down the sideline to AB. The win was amazing, but watching Ben jog off the field with Ryan Shazier's jersey over his shoulder just showed how close the team was and how much of a family they were. Shazier got hurt the week before and to get a comeback win like that is what the team needed after that emotional rollercoaster. Hard to pick one moment, but I remember that one like it was yesterday."
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Roethlisberger's grit and determination to give his team and these fans his absolute best every game of his career is what I will always remember. He could have easily retired in 2019 after his elbow reconstruction surgery, but he rehabbed and came back for two final seasons. He was a first ballot Hall of Famer prior to his injury and had nothing left to prove. There were many games where a normal quarterback would've exited the game, but not Ben. He played through countless ailments and proved to his team and this city just how much he cared.
There's not one word or phrase that could express my gratitude for what Big Ben meant to me as a young kid and Steelers fan, but I think I speak for all Steelers fans when I say, "Thank You." Thank you for giving me something to look forward to every Sunday. Thank you for providing memories that will stick with me forever. Thank you 7.
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