Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger officially announces retirement after 18-year career
After 18 years at the helm for the Pittsburgh Steelers, QB Ben Roethlisberger announced on Thursday that he is officially retiring.
Roethlisberger posted a video on social media, making the announcement.
“The journey has been exhilarating, fueled by a spirit of competition,” Roethlisberger said. “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.”
Roethlisberger was shown in the video cleaning out his locker at Heinz Field for the last time and sitting at home with his wife, Ashley, and three young sons.
Roethlisberger will go down as a Steelers legend. The Steelers took him with the 11th pick in the 2004 draft, and he would win the Offensive Rookie of the Year. In all, he took the Steelers to the playoffs 12 times, playing in three Super Bowls and winning two (following the 2005 and 2008 seasons).
The six-time Pro Bowler is ranked fifth all-time in passing yards (64,088) and completions (5,440) and eighth in touchdowns (418). He has 53 game-winning drives, second only to Peyton Manning (54), and ranks third all-time in fourth-quarter comebacks with 41.
