Category: Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger breaks Tom Brady record with rally over Ravens

When your career lasts 17 seasons — most of them successful — you set and break a lot of records. And sometimes you pass Tom Brady.

When your career lasts 17 seasons — most of them successful — you set and break a lot of records. Ben Roethlisberger broke another one last night with the Steelers thrilling win over the Baltimore Ravens.

Pittsburgh trailed Baltimore for 58 minutes until Roethlisberger rallied his team on a 10-play, 59-yard drive that ended with a game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Diontae Johnson.

It was the 51st time Roethlisberger took the Steelers from a tie or deficit in the fourth quarter to win the game since he came into the league in 2004. The franchise record achievement now ranks third in NFL history, breaking a tie with Tom Brady.

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley noted that 10 of Roethlisberger’s 51 career game-winning drives were against Baltimore.

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Ben Roethlisberger on what makes Steelers HC Mike Tomlin special

The man who knows Mike Tomlin the best in Pittsburgh is the one who’s been with him the longest, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger.

The Pittsburgh Steelers boast something that no other club in the NFL can — unwavering stability at the head coach level. When Mike Tomlin was named head coach of the Steelers in 2007, he became just the third head coach in five decades.

Tomlin, who’s never had a losing record as a head coach, embarks on his 15th regular season next month.

Who knows Mike Tomlin the best in Pittsburgh? None other than legendary Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who was entering his fourth season as a pro when Tomlin was hired to lead the Steelers.

“In 15 years, he hasn’t changed a lot. That’s what I think is unique and neat. He’s still the same guy,” Roethlisberger said of Tomlin on SiriusXM’s recent Training Camp Tour stop in Pittsburgh.

“He’s evolved and grown as a coach and a leader, but in terms of who he is, I don’t think he’s ever going to change that. I think that’s what makes him special, why he’s endeared himself to this city, to the fanbase, the team, the owners, all of that.”

The endearing continues for at least three more seasons. The Steelers signed Tomlin to an extension in April.

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Ben Roethlisberger tells offensive line not to forget about the quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger has offensive line on the mind.

Entering what may (or may not) be his last season in the NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has the offensive line on his mind.

With offseason focus on improving a dead-last run game via rookie running back Najee Harris, Big Ben hopes that Pittsburgh’s linemen haven’t forgotten about the quarterback.

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“I hope their biggest pride… I know that everyone is preaching running the ball, right… We have to run the ball better, this, that, and the other.”

“I hope that their biggest pride is protecting the quarterback,” Roethlisberger recently told SiriusXM’s Movin’ the Chains.

Pass protection, pass protection, pass protection.

The Steelers offensive line did a stand-up job (pun intended) at protecting their quarterback last season. Ben Roethlisberger took a record-low 13 sacks, but he also got the ball out of his hands at a rate like never before because the players couldn’t hold their blocks.

Either way, the performance of that O-line is a thing of the past because only one starter returned for the 2021 season.

Following Pittsburgh’s win over the Eagles, Steelers head coach Tomlin said Roethlisberger would play versus the Detroit Lions. Although only for a series or two, it’ll be our first and only preseason glimpse of Big Ben with the first team.

The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Detroit Lions Saturday at 7:30 p.m. eastern for preseason Week 2.

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Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger can move past these 2 QBs on all-time passing list in 2021

It’ll take Big Ben most, if not all, of this season to achieve this milestone.

Just as in the 17 seasons previous, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ success in 2021  hinges on the performance of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

There’s no telling what we’ll see from the Steelers offense under new coordinator Matt Canada, but the 39-year-old Roethlisberger should not be expected to sling the ball 500 to 600 times like in previous seasons.

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With 60,348 passing yards, Roethlisberger sits in seventh place on the NFL’s all-time list, sandwiched between Hall of Famer Dan Marino and retired New York Giants QB Eli Manning.

Roethlisberger was neck and neck with the youngest Manning brother at the start of the 2020 season, so it only took a couple of games to pass him. Big Ben should surpass Marino’s 61,361 yards by this season’s midpoint.

Even in a season when Big Ben will (hopefully) do more handing off than throwing, passing for 3,000-yards is totally attainable. It’ll take Roethlisberger most of the season, if not all 17 games, to eclipse Rivers’ 63,440 yards, though. If Rivers comes out of retirement, as he’s been hinting, that could change things.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Tom Brady is the only active quarterback in the top five for passing yardage. Brady is second behind Drew Brees, who retired this offseason.

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Ben Roethlisberger wishes he had more time with Steelers HOF HC Bill Cowher

SiriusXM NFL Radio stopped in Pittsburgh and got a chance to talk to Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger about legendary HC Bill Cowher. 

SiriusXM’s Training Camp Tour recently stopped at Pittsburgh Steelers camp and got a chance to talk to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger about legendary head coach Bill Cowher.

“It’s so humbling to have played for a Hall of Fame coach,” said Roethlisberger on SiriusXM’s Movin’ the Chains. Cowher was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday as part of the Centennial Class of 2020.

Several years after he’d retired, Cowher told Roethlisberger that as a rookie, he had two options. “‘I could’ve treated you like you were God’s gift to the Steelers or I could’ve treated you like a crappy, young kid. And I chose the crappy young kid,'” Roethlisberger shared with a smile.

The latter worked because Ben Roethlisberger had a record of 13-0 his rookie season.

It wasn’t until Cowher and the Steelers selected Big Ben 11th overall in the 2004 NFL draft that the Steelers really started going places.

After 14 attempts, in the 2005 season, Cowher finally got his team to the big show and won it. The Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-10 in Super Bowl 40.

Roethlisberger said he and his teammates knew Cowher would be heading to the Hall, especially after the Super Bowl win.

“What he meant and means to the city of Pittsburgh… I’d say it’s unparallell but you have Coach Chuck and now Mike, but the tradition and what he means is truly something special.”

In just three seasons under head coach Bill Cowher, Roethlisberger threw for 8,521 yards and 52 touchdowns. When he retired following the 2006 season, the Steelers had a record of 29 and 11 and a Lombardi Trophy for their efforts.

“I love playing with Mike, I’m not taking anything away from Mike,” Roethlisberger said. “I wish I could’ve played with Coach Cowher later in my career, too.”

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Ben Roethlisberger: Approaching 2021 season ‘like it’s my last’

Will this season be the end for Ben Roethlisberger?

Ben Roethlisberger addressed the media on Tuesday for the first time since January. Immediately following season (and probably for months before), questions abound whether he’d return in 2021. So, it’s no surprise one of the first things Big Ben was asked was if he was approaching this coming season like it’s his last.

“I’m going to approach this like I do every season—like it’s my last,” said Roethlisberger. “I think that’s the approach you have to take. And you don’t approach it that way because it could be your last, but you approach it because every single play in the game of football could be your last. Every game could be your last game.”

Roethlisberger’s last game is one he’d like to forget. Don’t we all?

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The wild-card game versus the Cleveland Browns started like something out of “The Benny Hill Show”: Now-retired center Maurkice Pouncey snapped the ball as if it needed to go over London’s Big Ben. Roethlisberger and former Steelers running back James Conner were first to the ball and looked confused about who should recover it. Instead, Browns safety Karl Joseph did — for a touchdown.

Moments later, Roethlisberger threw the first of four interceptions, three of which led to 17 of the Browns’ 48 points.

Roethlisberger places the blame for the playoff loss — and games before — on himself, as good leaders often do. “I’ll be the first to point the thumb at myself. When the ball is in your hand every play, you have to make plays and play better football.”

He knows that if anything is going to change in the 2021 season that it begins and ends with him.

“That just means I’m going out to give it everything I have,” said Roethlisberger. “I have never looked towards the future. I’ve always looked at the right here and now, and that’s what’s important for me for this season is giving it everything I have right here and right now for this group of guys.”

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Dear Steelers: If you only commit to one thing this season, let it be this

If Ben Roethlisberger is to go out with his head held high, the organization needs to lend him a helping hand.

So Ben Roethlisberger is returning for his 18th and what appears to be final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

If Roethlisberger is to go out with his head held high, the organization needs to lend him a helping hand in the form of a reliable run game and balanced offense.

With Matt Canada taking over the reins, we’re going to see a different scheme, that’s certain. But I would think some of what we saw in 2020 was of then-QB coach Matt Canada’s doing.

Roethlisberger isn’t getting any younger, but he still has the ability to produce, as evidenced by 3,803 yards, 33 touchdowns, and a QB rating of 94. That was with Pittsburgh’s receivers dropping balls at an alarming rate.

Just imagine what he can do with a little help from his (RB) friends. Unfortunately, the run game vanished between the first half and second half of the 2020 season, so did the offense’s success and winning games.

NFL Network reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala recently tweeted these jarring stats: When the Steelers rush for 100 yards, Roethlisberger is 106-20-1 (.839). When they don’t, he’s 50-54 (.481). Since 2018, he’s 12-0-1 when his team gives him 100 rush yards, 9-11 when it doesn’t.

Ben had a terrific season in a pass-first (heck, pass-always) offense, especially considering he was 38 and coming off what could’ve easily been a career-ending injury. Sure, his interceptions went up in the second half of the season (four in first eight weeks, six in last eight), but some of that had to do with the offense’s predictability than Ben’s accuracy. Logic tells us that the more one throws the ball, the higher the chances of being picked off.

If the Steelers expect Roethlisberger to survive his likely last season, they will need to show an undying commitment to a ground attack. Run the ball down defense’s throats and take some pressure off Big Ben.

Take a look at Aditi’s follow-up tweet:

Pittsburgh had more rush yards (684) through six games than it did in the last 11 games (667). That’s unacceptable and played a role in their lack of success down the stretch.

As it stands today, Pittsburgh’s running back stable consists of three unproven guys in Benny Snell, Jaylen Samuels and Anthony McFarland. James Conner remains unsigned and won’t be unless he agrees to a reduced role and salary. Even then, the Steelers sound like they’re ready to move on.

Not only do the Steelers need to bolster their backs, but they’re going to have to revamp their offensive line to include guys who can run block. Of the six free-agent linemen, only one is signed — reserve left tackle, Jarron Jones.

The Steelers can get there. They just need to make the right moves and stick to their (run game) guns — for the sake of Ben Roethlisberger’s legacy. We all know that players are often remembered for how they exited. Help him make it a great exit.

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3 takeaways from Ben Roethlisberger’s new contract

Whether you wanted him back or not, we all knew it was coming — it was just a matter of when and at what salary.

Well, Ben’s back. I don’t know that it was ever much of a question despite the riddles from Steelers president Art Rooney and general manager Kevin Colbert on the topic.

Whether you wanted him back or not, we all knew it was coming — it was just a matter of when and at what salary.

Now that we know, here are three takeaways from Roethlisberger’s new deal.

3 things Steelers should get Big Ben for his birthday

Happy birthday, Big Ben! Here’s what Steelers Wire is hoping the Steelers get Ben Roethlisberger for his birthday this season.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger turns 39 years young on Tuesday.

Presuming the Steelers and the future Hall of Famer can come to terms on a contract extension, here’s what they should get him this season for his birthday.

REPORT: Ben Roethlisberger met with Pittsburgh Steelers brass on Tuesday

The first of what I’m sure will be many meetings happened on Tuesday between Ben Roethlisberger and Steelers president Art Rooney II. 

The first of what I’m sure will be many meetings happened on Tuesday between Ben Roethlisberger and Steelers president Art Rooney II.

Per a source of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, that meeting “went well”.

Vague, of course, as most of these talks are. Likely, we won’t know anything concrete until it comes straight from the horse’s mouth.

The two sides have until mid-March to hammer out a new deal, in whatever form that may be. Roethlisberger is due a $15 million roster bonus on March 15.

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