‘It’s time to hang up my cleats’: Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger announces his retirement after 18 NFL seasons and two Super Bowl titles, saying it’s time to focus on his ‘wife and children’
After 18 NFL seasons and two Super Bowl victories, longtime Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is retiring from football.
The 39-year-old announced his decision on social media Thursday morning, nearly two weeks after the Steelers’ season-ending loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Wildcard Round of the NFL playoffs. Specifically, Roethlisberger said he wanted to spend more time with his wife, Ashley, and their three children: Ben Jr., Baylee, and Bodie.
‘I don’t know how to put into words what the game of football has meant to me and what a blessing it has been,’ Roethlisberger said, narrating his farewell over highlights from his celebrated career. ‘While I know with confidence I have given my all to the game, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all it has given me.
‘The journey has been exhilarating, fueled by a spirit of competition,’ Roethlisberger continued. ‘Yet the time has come to clean out my locker, hang up my cleats and continue to be all I can be to my wife and children. I retire from football a truly grateful man.’
Roethlisberger recently hinted at retirement ahead of the Steelers’ last home game of the 2021 season, saying he knew it could be his final appearance at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field.
The Ohio native ranks fifth in NFL history in passing yards (64,088) and completions (5,440), and eighth with 418 career touchdown passes.
And just in case anyone doubted Roethlisberger’s toughness, the 6-foot-5 passer was sacked an NFL-record 554 times.
Roethlisberger was still effective in 2021, but hardly the passer he once was as the Steelers squeaked into the postseason with a 9-7 record. His 86.8 passer rating ranks among his worst for his career, and was better than only 10 of 37 other qualifying quarterbacks on the season.
Despite is struggles, Roethlisberger remained popular with Steelers fans, whom he thanked in his farewell video.
‘To Steeler nation, the best fans in all of sport, thank you for accepting and supporting me as your quarterback over the years,’ he said in the video. ‘Football has been a gift, and I thank God for allowing me to play it, surrounding me with great people and protecting me through to the end with love and honor.’
