Reports emerged over the weekend that Pittsburgh Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger was ready to call it quits after the current campaign. The 39-year-old was selected 11th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft and has spent his entire career in Pittsburgh. He has led them to two Super Bowl triumphs and has been named to the Pro Bowl six times.
Following the Steelers’ crucial week 13 victory over the Baltimore Ravens though, the quarterback refused to discuss retirement.
“I haven’t told everybody that, no,” Roethlisberger said laughing via NFL.com. “Honestly, we just got done with this game, I’m exhausted. We play in a couple hours, it feels like. That’s my focus. My focus is on Minnesota and what we have to do to get ready.
“I’ll address any of that stuff after the season. I’ve always been a one-game-at-a-time, one-season-at-a-time person. I’m going to stay that way.”
The Steelers are in the middle of a battle to get back into the playoffs for the second consecutive season. They sit third in the competitive AFC North division with a 6-5-1 record and need to be fully focused on the task at hand if they have any chance of qualifying for the postseason.
Head coach Mike Tomlin isn’t concerned about his quarterback’s future either, as he knows the veteran understands what it takes to get the job done.
“There’s nothing to manage,” Tomlin said, via NFL.com. “Ben doesn’t allow it to become an issue. Ben has been pretty solid in terms of his expressions that he’s singularly focused on what it is that we’re doing now.
“He’ll deal with those things on the other side of this journey, and I’m with him on it.”
Sunday’s win over the Ravens could potentially be Roethlisberger’s last home game against one of the team’s biggest rivals and if it was, it couldn’t have gone any better.
“I’ve been doing it a long time,” Roethlisberger said. “I’ve enjoyed this game, and this game specifically, and winning at home in front of our fans, it’s awesome.”
Pittsburgh still have one more game to go during the regular season against the Ravens though, in the final week of the season on January 9th. That game will be on the road though at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Steelers have a massive game away to the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday evening at U.S. Bank Stadium. A win could put them right back into the hunt for a division title, but a loss could see the end of their dreams.
After reaching the playoffs for four consecutive years, the Steelers have missed out in two of the last three seasons and will be desperate to get back, especially if this does prove to be Roethlisberger’s last. Pittsburgh won the AFC North title last year, but were eliminated in the Wild Card round by division rivals the Cleveland Browns.
Kickoff for the Steelers game against the Vikings on Thursday night is scheduled for 8:20 pm E.T. With major playoff implications on the line for both teams, we should be in for a great contest.
