Ben Roethlisberger Talks Addiction to Porn And How It Affected His Relationships

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Saturday opened up about his past addiction to alcohol and pornography, and how his shortcomings affected his role as a good father and husband.

Speaking at the ManUp Pittsburgh conference, which deals with one’s faith and man's role as a husband and father, Roethlisberger said as per ESPN: “I’ve fallen as short as anybody. I’ve been addicted to alcohol. I’ve been addicted to pornography, which makes me then not the best husband, not the best father, not the best Christian I can be.

However, the father-of-three was able to overcome his addictions “because of the grace of God.”

The 38-year-old also credited his marriage to Ashley Harlan in 2011 for bringing religion back into his life. His belief in Christ was reinforced three years ago when he got baptised for a second time.

“I just felt that I needed to do that,” he said. “I wanted to have a closer walk, a better relationship with Jesus, my wife, my kids, my family — become a better person.”

Roethlisberger added that he has been trying hard to be a better Christian than an athlete and admitted it wasn’t always easy. “People don’t realize all the time that us athletes, we’re human,” he said. “We sin like everyone else. We make mistakes. We get addicted to things. We sin.”

Roethlisberger, whom president Donald Trump describes as one of his friends, was mentioned in porn star Stormy Daniels’s book “Full Disclosure.”

Writing about their first meeting, Daniels said she was introduced to the quarterback by Trump at Lake Tahoe in 2006. Daniels claims that Roethlisberger tried to kiss her after escorting her to her hotel room.

“I was terrified. I am rarely terrified," Daniels wrote, adding that Roethlisberger responded saying, "'Come on.'" After she closed the door, the athlete "stood outside, not leaving" and knocked several times before he left.

Roethlisberger has also been accused of sexual misconduct twice in the past.

In 2008, a woman claimed the NFL player raped her at the Harrah's Hotel, and in 2010, it was reported that Roethlisberger was investigated for a sexual assault inside the women's restroom of a nightclub.

But he was never charged in either of these cases.