The Pittsburgh Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger parted ways after 18 seasons following the 2021 season. It was a magical send off that featured the Steelers legend beating the hated Cleveland Browns, and Baltimore Ravens to secure the last AFC playoff spot. The magic would end the next week in Kansas City, but there was no reason to think things had grown sour between the Steelers and Roethlisberger. Until now.
Terry Bradshaw stayed away from Pittsburgh for decades after he retired.
During a question and answer segment on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's website, a reader posed this question to Gerry Dulac:
"Is there bad blood between the Steelers and Big Ben with how his career ended? Was he ready to retire or was it a Troy [Polamalu] type situation where he was forced into it?"
Dulac's response was a surprising one.
"I would say it's very very safe to assume that."
If you remember back to the situation that happened with Troy Polamalu and the Steelers organization, you'll remember that the team gave Polamalu an ultimatum. Either retire, or we're going to release you. Polamalu ultimately decided to retire, but he wouldn't come back to Heinz Field or have any association with the Steelers for several years.
Polamalu's hard feelings for the organization began to surface in the fall of 2015, when the Pro Bowler declined to attend the team's 10th anniversary of the Super Bowl XL championship team at Heinz Field.
"Multiple sources have confirmed Polamalu wanted no parts; he declined the invitation and has, make no mistake, distanced himself from the organization from which he was tied so deeply to and retired from in April," CBS Sports Colin Dunlap wrote at the time.
You felt that going into 2021, there was some animosity towards Roethlisberger from the Steelers organization, and vice versa. If you remember, it took quite awhile until the Steelers announced that Roethlisberger was returning. And to do so, he took a $5 million dollar pay cut. Seeing what the Steelers did in free agency, and then the draft, it was probably hard for Roethlisberger to watch after what they gave him in 2020.
Last week Roethlisberger did his first public interview on WDVE 102.5, and was asked about whether or not he would be pulling a Tom Brady and come out of retirement.
Well, I tell you what, first off, my coach and general manager don’t want me back,” Roethlisberger said on WDVE 102.5 with Randy Baumann"
For what it's worth, Roethlisberger's skills declined rapidly. He couldn't move around, and for all of the amazing things he could do, his ability to extend plays, and move around was a huge part of his game.
Something to keep in the back of your mind if you don't see Roethlisberger around this year, or in coming years.
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