Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger retires after 18 seasons

PITTSBURGH — After 18 seasons as the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement Thursday morning.

In a video posted to his Twitter account, Roethlisberger announced what became obvious over the final weeks of the 2021 season.

“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.”

In a statement, Steelers president Art Rooney II said, “… we are forever grateful for all the success he has helped bring to the organization for the past 18 years. Ben will always be viewed as one of the all-time greats in our team history, and his determination, toughness and competitiveness will be remembered by everyone in the organization as well as Steeler Nation throughout the world.”

Roethlisberger, 39, finished a likely Hall of Fame career with two Super Bowl wins, Rookie of the Year honors and the fifth-most passing yards (64,088) in NFL history.

“When I think about you, you identify and you represent everything a Pittsburgh Steeler is. You played with grit, determination and a degree of toughness. I congratulate you on a job well done and without a doubt, I will see you in Canton. Kudos,” former Steelers coach Bill Cowher said in a video tweeted by the team.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that Roethlisberger will be eligible for selection in 2027.

“I’ve been here a long time, and it’s been a lot of fun,” Roethlisberger said after his final game, a wild-card game loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. “God has blessed me. We joke a lot about the Browns and going in there, but it was meant to be that I was going to wear black and gold. Draft day I had a black suit 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…