The Pittsburgh Steelers boasted one of the NFL's most electrifying duos when Ben Roethlisberger was connecting with Antonio Brown. Together, they led one of the league's most explosive offenses. However, the relationship between Brown and Roethlisberger became a major topic of discussion after Brown’s dramatic departure from Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger yells at wide receiver Antonio Brown during a game.
During his time with the Steelers, Brown was widely regarded as the best wide receiver in the NFL. Yet, as his frustrations grew, he made it clear that he wanted out, leading to a contentious split with the organization. Brown’s exit was messy, with the star receiver publicly criticizing the team and expressing his excitement about leaving. Despite his immense talent, some Steelers fans began to grow frustrated with his behavior.
Brown ultimately forced a trade out of Pittsburgh, leaving many to wonder about his relationship with Roethlisberger. Over the years, Brown’s comments about his former quarterback have been contradictory, but recently, he seems to have softened his stance. When asked about Roethlisberger during a social media session, Brown shared something intriguing about their final conversation before he left the team.
"I love Ben, man. I never thought we had a bad relationship… I feel like we always had a good relationship, man. My last talk with Ben was actually me leaving the Steelers. He was actually telling me like, 'Yo man,' giving me a positive pep talk. Like, 'AB man, people love you man. Don’t worry about the 5% of people who hate you.'"
When Brown was pushing to leave Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger made an effort to change his mind. He understood just how crucial Brown was to the team and the importance of keeping him in the Steel City.
Steelers.com
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown at the Pro Bowl.
While his attempt to persuade Brown ultimately failed, leading to the wide receiver's trade, it's revealing to hear that Roethlisberger tried to convince him to stay. Brown later expressed appreciation for Roethlisberger’s understanding and willingness to have that conversation during such a turbulent time.
"I thought he was looking at me laughing because he never had seen me in that type of spirit. He was really giving me like, yo man, I see that something is bothering you. I don’t think he had seen me in that type of spirit."
Brown continued to explain what was going through his mind when he was wanting out of Pittsburgh.
"At the time, I was just thinking like, he’s not going to be playing that much longer and I wanted to win. I feel like we never had a bad relationship. I love Ben… We always was tight."
It’s refreshing to hear Brown speak so positively about Roethlisberger. While their relationship has been questioned in recent years, Roethlisberger has consistently praised Brown. Although Brown made some critical comments about him a few years ago, his stance seems to have changed significantly.
Steelers' Antonio Brown Still Has A Ton Of Love For Ben Roethlisberger
Brown hasn’t hesitated to call Roethlisberger the best quarterback he's ever played with, often detailing what made him so special. It almost feels like Brown regrets the rocky relationship that developed after his Steelers days. Hearing him speak so highly of Roethlisberger now is a welcome change.
Keith Srakocic / AP
Steelers' Antonio Brown celebrates a touchdown in Pittsburgh.
Steelers fans will never forget the magic of Roethlisberger throwing the ball to Brown, who always seemed to make the impossible catch. The two will forever be Steelers legends. While Brown’s reputation took a hit after his messy exit and the things he said afterward, he’s been working hard to show his love for the Steelers and his appreciation for his time in Pittsburgh.
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