Will Ben Roethlisberger Retire? Steelers’ QB Unlikely To Return In 2022

Ben Roethlisberger's NFL career will probably be finished in two games. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has acknowledged that he’ll likely retire before the 2022 NFL season.

There have been rumors that Roethlisberger is preparing for Monday night’s contest against the Cleveland Browns to be his final home game in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are long shots to make the playoffs, and their Week 18 finale will come on the road against the Baltimore Ravens.

“I don’t ever speak in definites or guarantees. That’s just not what I’ve ever done or who I am,” Roethlisberger told reporters Thursday. “But looking at the bigger picture, I would say that all signs point 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 that this could be it.”

Ben Roethlisberger won’t speak in definites, but he says “all signs” are pointing that “this could be it” his last game — at least regular season — at Heinz Field. pic.twitter.com/9jlhR99Kty
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) December 30, 2021

Roethlisberger has been the Steelers' starting quarterback since the team made him the No. 11 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. The future Hall of Famer has won two championships and led Pittsburgh to three Super Bowl appearances. Roethlisberger is fifth on the all-time passing list and has been selected to six Pro Bowls.

The Steelers have never finished below .500 with Roethlisberger on the team, though that might change this season. Pittsburgh enters Week 17 with a 7-7-1 record and as home underdogs against Cleveland.

At 39 years old, Roethlisberger is no longer close to being one of the league's top quarterbacks.

With two games remaining, Roethlisberger’s 90.2 passer rating is tied for 18th among quarterbacks and marks his worst rating for a full season in 13 years. His 240.9 passing yards per game are also his lowest since 2008. Roethlisberger's 6.5 yards per attempt are the second-lowest of his career.

Pittsburgh is 1.5 games out of first place in the AFC North and the No. 11 seed in the Week 17 playoff picture.