Roethlisberger Retires At 39: Time To ‘Hang Up My Cleats’
Jan 27, 2022, 9:47 AM
Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to pass during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field on October 17, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger’s NFL career is over.
The longtime Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has announced his retirement.
In a video message, Roethlisberger said it was “time to clean out my locker, hang up my cleats” after 18 seasons, two Super Bowls, countless team records and a likely spot in the Hall of Fame.
A message from Ben:@steelers #NFL #SteelersNation #ThankYou#HereWeGo #LoveAndHonor pic.twitter.com/pUbKGO1nUs
— BigBen7.com (@_BigBen7) January 27, 2022
The 39-year-old Roethlisberger called his journey from a kid growing up in Ohio to the 11th overall pick in the 2004 draft to a likely future Hall of Famer “exhilarating” but said he is retiring “a truly grateful man.”
The Steelers never had a losing season during Roethlisberger’s tenure and captured Super Bowls 40 and 46.
The player known universally as “Big Ben” posted a 165-81-1 record as a starter, the most in franchise history and fifth-most ever.
