The Steelers’ game Monday night against the Browns will likely be Ben Roethlisberger’s swan song at home in Pittsburgh.
The 39-year-old quarterback, who is in his 18th NFL season, said Thursday that the upcoming AFC North showdown will likely be his final home game at Heinz Field.
“I don’t ever speak in definites or guarantees, that’s just not what I’ve ever done or who I am,” Roethlisberger said, according to Pro Football Talk.
“But looking at the bigger picture, I would say that all signs are pointing to this could be it. Regular season, that is — I know we still have a chance to potentially get a playoff game there if things fall our way and we take care of business and things have to happen. But in the grand scheme of things, in terms of regular season, signs are pointing that way, this could be it.”
The 2021 season has long been speculated to be Roethlisberger’s final year in the NFL. The future Hall of Famer, who is also a two-time Super Bowl champ, has thrown for 3,373 yards in 14 games this season, along with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Selected by the Steelers 11th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft, Roethlisberger later won two Super Bowl titles in the 2005 and 2008 seasons. He was also named to the Pro Bowl six times.
Although the Steelers made it to the playoffs last year, before being bounced out by the Browns in the Wild Card round, alarms went off earlier this season with his arm strength seeming diminished.
Former teammate Ryan Shazier, who played linebacker from 2014-17 before retiring due to a career-ending spinal injury, said Roethlisberger should consider calling it a career sooner rather than later.
“Sometimes the game will tell you when it’s time,” Shazier said during an appearance on “Tiki & Tierney” earlier this month. “And I love Ben, but I think next year may be time for him to step away from the game.”
The 2021 season has long been speculated to be Roethlisberger’s final year in the league. In 14 games this season, the future Hall of Famer has thrown for 3,373 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Roethlisberger is focusing on what’s in front of him at the moment with the Steelers’ playoff hopes on the line against the Browns.:
“I’ll address the definite answer for that at some point down the road,” the quarterback said Thursday, per NFL.com. “But like I said, my focus is winning this game. If it is indeed my last regular-season game here, it’s going to be one of the most important games of my career.
“I’ve been so blessed to play in front of the best fans in all of sports at the best venue, and what better way to have a last potential regular-season game than ‘Monday Night Football’ against a division opponent. It’s just special. So, the long-winded answer is I got a lot of focus on still for this year and this game, and that’s got to be it right now.”
The Steelers are 7-7-1 in a tight AFC North playoff race.
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