Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Reveals Sincere Regret About Former Wide Receiver

The Pittsburgh Steelers were in great hands when legendary quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was in town. Now, the Steelers have been searching for their next face of the franchise since the day he retired, but they haven’t had much luck. The transition hasn’t been easy, and finding a quarterback who can fill Roethlisberger's shoes remains one of the biggest challenges for the team.

During Roethlisberger’s career, he was fortunate to play with some supremely talented wide receivers such as Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant, and Hines Ward. Other notable receivers who contributed to the offense include Santonio Holmes, Mike Wallace, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. These players helped shape the Steelers’ passing game and created some unforgettable moments for fans.

When Roethlisberger was speaking on his podcast Footbahlin, he revealed the one wide receiver he wished he got to play with longer and it may have come as a shock when he said Plaxico Burress. Despite only playing with Burress for a short time, Roethlisberger expressed genuine regret that Burress’ tenure in Pittsburgh was cut short, showing just how much he valued the connection they had.

"I loved all of them," Roethlisberger said. "Loved playing with all of them. It's hard to pick one 'cause I feel like that's disrespectful to the other ones. But I got to play with Emmanuel [Sanders] for awhile. Martavis was such a, I call him a freak on the field, just because of what he was able to do."

Burress was drafted by the Steelers with the eighth overall pick in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He played in Pittsburgh from 2000 to 2004 before returning for a brief stint in the 2012 season. 

Roethlisberger only got to play alongside Burress during the 2004 season, which was his rookie year, and then for a few games in 2012. It's pretty clear that Roethlisberger really wishes he could have played more with Burress.

"It's too bad that his time was cut short here," Roethlisberger said. "Got to play with JuJu for a bunch of years, and really enjoyed JuJu. Loved the way he played the game. I only played with Plaxico for a couple years, and I loved Plax. I wish Plaxico could have stayed here longer with me."

Burress didn’t quite live up to the lofty expectations that come with being the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft, but he still managed to carve out an impressive career. While he never earned a Pro Bowl selection, Burress became a key contributor on several teams and reached the pinnacle of success when he helped the New York Giants win Super Bowl XLII. 

Over the course of his 148-game career, he recorded 553 receptions for 8,499 receiving yards and 64 touchdowns, establishing himself as a reliable and physically dominant target throughout his time in the league.

Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Played With Some Star Wide Receivers

It’s hard not to wonder how much more Burress could have accomplished had he spent more years in Pittsburgh with Roethlisberger. The two only shared the field for Roethlisberger’s rookie season in 2004 and a short stint during Burress’ return in 2012. Even in that limited time, the connection between them showed promise. 

With Roethlisberger’s growth into one of the game’s top quarterbacks, it’s intriguing to think about the damage they could have done together over several full seasons. 

Hearing Roethlisberger reflect on the wide receivers he played with is always a treat for fans. From legendary names like Ward to explosive playmakers like Bryant and Smith-Schuster, Roethlisberger was surrounded by talent throughout his career. Of course, Brown is often regarded as the most talented receiver he ever played with, but it’s clear that Burress left a lasting impression on the Steelers' quarterback despite their limited time together.

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