After 18 seasons in the NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger officially announced his retirement.
“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,” he said in a video. “Well, I know with confidence I have given my all to the game, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all it has given me.”
“The journey has been exhilarating, defined by relationships and fueled by a spirit of competition,” he 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.”
“First and foremost, I need to thank the Lord for all the many blessings He has bestowed on me. To my wife Ashley, our children Benjamin, Baylee and Bodie — you lift and inspire me and give my life purpose. I am so thankful for your love and support. I love you so much.”
“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,” he concluded.
Roethlisberger wasn’t always an outspoken follower of Christ, but he opened up about a big life change at the ManUp Conference in 2020. “Three years ago I got baptized,” Roethlisberger said, according to Sports Spectrum. “I was baptized as a kid; my parents took me as a baby. But I didn’t make that decision. So three years ago now I made the decision to be baptized because I felt like I needed to do that. I wanted to have a closer walk, a better relationship with Jesus, with my wife, with my kids, with my family — become a better person.”
“Jesus is the One who brought me back to Him, and I’m so thankful for it because I feel I’m a better Christian, a better husband, and a better father today because of His forgiveness of me,” he said.
Roethlisberger’s last game took place on Sunday Jan.16, when the Steelers fell to the Kansas City Chiefs 42-21 in the AFC’s wild-card round. He shared that he wanted to focus more on his family and “expand God’s Kingdom” as part of the next chapter in his life.
In 2004, Roethlisberger was drafted by the Steelers and was named Rookie of The Year after starting in and winning 13 games that season. The now-former quarterback also led the team to two Superbowl victories in the 2005 and 2008 seasons. According to Sports Spectrum, Roethlisberger ends his career as one of the greatest quarterbacks of his generation as he ranks 5th all-time in NFL history with his passing yards (64,088) and completions (5,440). Meanwhile, he ranks 8th passing touchdowns (418). Each mark is No. 1 in Steelers history. Overall, Roethlisberger walks away from the NFL with a 165-81-1 record.