Ben Roethlisberger, the face of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, walked away in 2021. He left the NFL on top, after a hall-of-fame worthy two-decade career. His tenure was marked by impressive statistics and pivotal moments, including a contemplation of retirement following a heartbreaking loss in the 2016 AFC Championship Game. As the Steelers navigate the aftermath of his departure, fans and analysts alike reflect on Roethlisberger’s legacy and its implications for the team’s future.
In January 2017, the Steelers would again fall to the New England Patriots, this time in the AFC Championship Game. After the game, Roethlisberger declared that he’d need to take time to assess his future. “I’m going to take this offseason to evaluate, to consider all options,” he stated, indicating that his career could be nearing its end. Head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t mess around with these comments and made sure his team knew to be ready for the unexpected.
Allen’s skepticism aside, Roethlisberger indeed decided to come back for the 2017 season and put together an exceptional campaign. He passed the ball for 4,251 yards, throwing 28 TDs to just 14 INTs and helped lead the Steelers to a 12-3 record. On top of that, he led the entire NFL in passing yards (5,129), passing attempts and completions. His talent shined through as he averaged an astounding 320.6 yards per game.
When the Steelers chose Mason Rudolph in the third round, this was understandably unpalatable for Roethlisberger. His frustration was evident as he expressed his concerns about the unfortunate decision. “I was surprised when they took a quarterback because I thought that maybe in the third round, you know you can get some really good football players that can help this team now,” he remarked.
Roethlisberger added to his skepticism over Rudolph’s ability to help the team win right away. “Nothing against Mason…I just don’t know how backing up or being a third [string] — well, who knows where he’s going to fall on the depth chart — helps us win now,” he added. This sentiment belied his allegiance to win at all costs in the moment, revealing the hyper-competitiveness inside him.
At the beginning of 2019, Roethlisberger signed a two-year extension with the Steelers, ensuring that he would finish his career where it began. And true to his word, he guided them ever since, signing a one-year deal right before the start of the 2021 season. This deal reduced his salary and eliminated more than $15 million in his cap hit. This unexpected outcome provided the team with significant financial flexibility in a rapidly changing landscape.
Unfortunately, even with these efforts, Roethlisberger’s last few seasons ended in disappointments. In fairness to McCoy, he never won another playoff contest after that divisional triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016. As for the Steelers, they have failed to find their mojo once given an opportunity to play in the playoffs. They haven’t won a playoff game since his retirement.
The huge void left by Roethlisberger’s departure will be felt heavily in Pittsburgh. The organization is now faced with the challenge of rebuilding its roster while finding a new leader under center. The drafting of Mason Rudolph and Josh Dobbs in recent years reflects an acknowledgment of this need for succession planning at the quarterback position.
Now that Roethlisberger’s legacy is firmly etched in Steelers history, what’s next for Pittsburgh as they write their new chapter remains to be seen. While it may take time for a new identity to emerge, lessons learned from Roethlisberger’s tenure will undoubtedly influence future decisions.
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