Ben Roethlisberger didn’t exactly announcement his retirement from the NFL on Sunday night in Kansas City.
Although after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 42-21 loss to the Chiefs in the AFC’s wild-card round, the veteran Steelers quarterback did sound like a man who had played his final game in the NFL.
“It’s tough. I’m proud to have played with these guys,” he told reporters postgame. “God has blessed me with an ability to throw a football, and has blessed me to play in the greatest city, Pittsburgh, with the greatest fans and the greatest football team and players, and it’s just been truly a blessing and I’m so thankful to him for the opportunity that he’s given me.”
"I'll always bleed black and gold" – Ben Roethlisberger pic.twitter.com/trWmW5amTd
— SteelerNation (@SteeIerNation) January 17, 2022
Should this be his last season, Big Ben will finish his career with 64,088 passing yards, 418 touchdowns, two Super Bowl wins.
Definitely Hall of Fame worthy numbers.
“I’ve been here a long time, and it’s been a lot of fun,” he said. “Like I said, God has blessed me … It was meant to be that I was going to wear black and gold. Draft day I had a black suit on with a gold tie. I’m just so thankful. I hope that I’m able to pass the legacy of what it is to be a Steeler from Dan Rooney.”
Ben Roethlisberger addresses the media: pic.twitter.com/l3eeMO4MQY
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 17, 2022
Roethlisberger was never specifically asked if he was retiring on Sunday night. He did say that this would likely hit him around training camp, and that he wanted to be “the best husband and father” that he can be.
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As for what’s next in the immediate future, Roethlisberger sounded ready to get home.
“I’m nervous. I am excited, just because I get to go home tonight … We’ve got snow and so the kids are already playing and tubing and doing sledding and stuff,” Roethlisberger said. “Being a husband and a father, you never take a day off. You’ve gotta keep going. So as we move from one chapter to the next, it’s going to be different but it’s going to be fun.”
Ben Roethlisberger’s final comments about the next chapter to come in his life. He’s going to go home and play in the snow with his kids pic.twitter.com/lixDxMfDaC
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 17, 2022
Sounds like Ben has his foot it out the door, but he’s also leaving that door open just a crack.
Only a matter of time before he makes his retirement 100% official.
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