As expected, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement on Thursday after 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 39-year-old shared the news in a video posted to his social media pages.
In the video, No. 7 is seen cleaning out his locker while reflecting on nearly two decades in Pittsburgh.
A message from Ben:@steelers #NFL #SteelersNation #ThankYou#HereWeGo #LoveAndHonor pic.twitter.com/pUbKGO1nUs
— BigBen7.com (@_BigBen7) January 27, 2022
"I don't know how to put into words what the game of football has meant to me and what a blessing it has been ... The journey has been exhilarating, defined by relationships and fueled by a spirit of competition," he says in the video. "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."
He then thanked his wife, his three kids, his parents and his sister. He also thanked his former coaches, teammates and the fans who supported him.
"Football has been a gift," the two-time Super Bowl champion said.
The Steelers drafted Roethlisberger in 2004 with the 11th overall pick and he spent his entire career in black and gold. Following his retirement announcement, fans and players reacted, some Steelers fans thanking him for the 18 years, some rivals celebrating the announcement and others reacting to a new era of quarterbacks emerging with each veteran QB retiring.
Here are some of the best reactions:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady joked about how different their training styles are.
Ben defied the TB12 Method in favor of the “Throw Some Ice On It” method his whole career, and ended up an all-time-great with 6 Pro-Bowls and 2 Super Bowls. There’s more than one way to bake a cake! https://t.co/ue36KXTHnk
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) January 27, 2022
The Steelers thanked Big Ben.
For everything you've done for the organization, the city, and for the game. #ThankYou7 pic.twitter.com/a0AQWFVFUb
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) January 27, 2022
Eli Manning, the No. 1-overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and one of Roethlisberger's most notable contemporaries, congratulated him on his retirement.
To the graduating Draft Class of '04#ThankYou7 | @EliManning pic.twitter.com/GUqFLTBXvD
— New York Giants (@Giants) January 27, 2022
Not a bad stat.
Big Ben was NEVER the member of a losing team in his 18-year career with the Steelers. pic.twitter.com/mNfTz7Eq1S
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 27, 2022
Fans are trying to manifest.
Now that Ben Roethlisberger is officially retired, the Pittsburgh Steelers will need a new quarterback. pic.twitter.com/OTWr2gAqOx
— Kory Woods (@KoryEWoods) January 27, 2022
It's the end of an era.
Peyton and Eli Manning. Phillip Rivers. Drew Brees. And now Ben Roethlisberger. The only great QB left from when I started watching football is Tom Brady...for now. pic.twitter.com/liWmldzgto
— Curbelo's League (@RustlingCub) January 27, 2022
Fans are already thinking five years ahead.
Next stop for Ben Roethlisberger? Canton, Ohio. We'll see him there in five years. That'll be a special day. #Steelers
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) January 27, 2022
