Ben Roethlisberger retires: Big Ben's greatest moments as the Steelers quarterback

Thu, Jan 27, 2022
NFL News (AP)

Ben Roethlisberger retires: Big Ben's greatest moments as the Steelers quarterback

Ben Roethlisberger gave Steelers fans two Super Bowl wins and 18 years of memories. A tough, blue collar quarterback who was anything but conventional, Roethlisberger seemed to embody the city his played in and the fan base that immediately embraced him in 2004.

Roethlisberger's 249 regular-season games are the most of any player in Steelers history. He went 165-81-1 in the regular season while compiling the fifth-most regular-season wins in league history. Roethlisberger is fifth all time with 64,088 passing yards and eighth with 418 touchdown passes. Against the Chiefs in the AFC wild card round, Roethlisberger moved past Joe Montana and Brett Favre for third all time in postseason passing yards.

In celebration of Roethlisberger's career, here's a look at his greatest moments as the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback.

12. 2014: Weeks 8 (Steelers 51,Colts34) & 9 (Steelers 43, Ravens 23)

Roethlisberger vs. Colts:40 of 49, 522 yards, 6 TD
Roethlisberger vs. Ravens:25 of 37, 340 yards, 6 TD

Pittsburgh's consecutive mid-season wins in 2014 marked the true beginning of the Killer B era. It was also the first time in NFL history that a quarterback threw for six touchdowns in consecutive games. Against the Colts (a game where the Steelers fittingly wore their throwback "bee" uniforms), Roethlisberger threw two touchdown passes toMartavis Bryantwhile Miller and Brown each went over 100 yards receiving. Bryant caught two more touchdowns against the Ravens, while Brown sprung for 144 yards and a score on 11 receptions.Markus Wheaton, Pittsburgh's No. 3 receiver, caught touchdowns in both games as Roethlisberger was on his way to his first of two league passing titles.

11. 2021 Week 16: Steelers 26, Browns 14

Roethlisberger: 24 of 46, 123 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

This game in many ways validated Roethlisberger's decision to come back for an 18th season. Steelers fans showered him with praise before, during and after what was his final game at Heinz Field. Fittingly, Roethlisberger's last home game was a win over the Browns, who famously passed on him in the 2004 NFL Draft.

10. 2016 Week 16: Steelers 31, Ravens 27

Roethlisberger:24 of 33, 279 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT

On Christmas Day, the Steelers and Ravens dueled in a game that would determine which team would win the AFC North and which team would be staying home for the playoffs. Down 20-10, Roethlisberger engineered two scoring drives that included his go-ahead touchdown pass to Le'Veon Bell with 7:16 left. The Ravens took back the lead with 1:18 left before Roethlisberger hit Brown for the game-winning score with nine seconds left. The touchdown, which is known in Pittsburgh as the "Immaculate Extension," capped off Pittsburgh's sixth consecutive win after a 4-5 start. The Steelers would go onto defeat Miami and Kansas City in the playoffs before bowing out to New England in the AFC Championship Game.

9. 2004: Week 8: Steelers 34,Patriots20

Roethlisberger:18 of 24, 196 yards, 2 TD

Roethlisberger's third career home victory snapped the Patriots' NFL record 21-game winning streak. The win also moved the Steelers to 6-1 in what would ultimately be a 15-1 season. New England took an early 3-0 lead before Roethlisberger responded with a 47-yard touchdown to Plaxico Burress. The two hooked up for another score before the end of the first quarter. Deshea Townsend's pick-six ofTom Bradygave the Steelers a 21-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. Roethlisberger would go onto win Offensive Rookie of the Year while going 13-0 as a starter during the regular season.

8. 2010 AFC Championship: Steelers 24,Jets19

Roethlisberger:10 of 19, 133 yards, 1 rushing TD

Big Ben and the Steelers blitzed the Jets early to the tune of a 24-0 first half lead. Roethlisberger engineered three first half scoring drives against one of the NFL's top defenses. After the Jets had rallied back to make it a five-point game, Roethlisberger made sure that New York wouldn't get any closer after he hit Brown on a clutch third-down completion that sealed the Steelers' third Super Bowl appearance in six years.

7. 2010 AFC Divisional Round: Steelers 31, Ravens 24

Roethlisberger:19 of 32, 226 yards, 2 TD

Down 21-7 at halftime, Roethlisberger engineered three consecutive scoring drives to start the second half that included touchdown passes to Miller and Ward. After the Ravens tied the score, Roethlisberger andAntonio Brownconnected on a 58-yard reception that set upRashard Mendenhall'sgame-winning score.

6. 2008 AFC Championship: Steelers 23,Ravens14

Roethlisberger:16 of 33, 255 yards, 1 TD

Roethlisberger had three memorable performances against Baltimore that season, but his effort with an AFC title at stake was the most notable. His 65-yard touchdown pass toSantonio Holmesgave the Steelers a 13-0 lead. Roethlisberger took care of the football while making up for a running game that was held to 52 yards on 28 carries. Roethlisberger became the third quarterback in franchise history to win an AFC Championship at home.

5. 2008 Week 15: Steelers 13, Ravens 9

Roethlisberger: 22 of 40, 246 yards, 1 TD

In an extremely physical game befitting the Steelers-Ravens rivalry, Roethlisberger led Pittsburgh on a 92-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 50 seconds left. The win gave the Steelers the AFC North division title, which was key given that the Steelers would host the Ravens in the AFC Championship several weeks later.

4. Super Bowl XL: Steelers 21, Seahawks 10

Roethlisberger: 9 of 21, 123 yards, 2 INT, 1 rushing TD

It was far from one of Roethlisberger's better statistical performances, but he made several big plays that helped the Steelers win their fifth Super Bowl. His 37-yard completion to Hines Ward on a third-and-28 play set up his 1-yard touchdown run. His three-yard run on Pittsburgh's final possession helped seal the Steelers' historical playoff run while making him the youngest starting quarterback to win the Super Bowl.

3. 2005 AFC Championship: Steelers 34, Broncos 17

Roethlisberger: 21 of 29, 275 yards, 2 TD, 1 rushing TD

Roethlisberger tore the NFL's third-ranked scoring defense apart. His touchdown passes to Cedrick Wilson (off another classic pump fake) and Hines Ward gave the visiting Steelers an insurmountable 24-3 halftime lead. His 4-yard touchdown run with three minutes left sealed Pittsburgh's first trip to the Super Bowl in a decade. In the process, Roethlisberger became the first quarterback to win three road games in a single postseason.

2. 2005 AFC divisional round: Steelers 21, Colts 18

Roethlisberger: 14 of 24, 197 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Roethlisberger threw two early touchdowns, then made the game-saving tackle following Jerome Bettis' fumble at the goal line. Instead of a game-winning fumble return for a touchdown, the Colts were sent home after Mike Vanderjagt missed a a 46-yard, game-tying field goal attempt with 21 seconds left. Nearly a decade later, Bettis thanked Roethlisberger for making his "Immaculate Tackle" during his Hall of Fame speech.

1. Super Bowl XLIII: Steelers 27, Cardinals 23

Roethlisberger: 21 of 30, 256 yards, 1 TD

Roethlisberger avenged his struggles in Super Bowl XL by leading the Steelers to a game-winning drive late in Super Bowl XLIII. Pittsburgh's 88-yard drive ended with Roethlisberger's game-winning touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left. The drive also included a classic Roethlisberger pump fake that led to a 40-yard completion to Holmes, who captured Super Bowl MVP honors. Roethlisberger became the 10th starting quarterback in NFL history to win multiple Super Bowls.

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