With what could be his final NFL game just days away, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Wednesday it’s “pretty cool” to potentially finish up his 18-year career in the city where he first got to play: Baltimore.
“The first game I ever played in the NFL was there,” Roethlisberger said ahead of Sunday’s game against the Ravens, per ESPN.
“And it was Ed Reed and [Haloti] Ngata, [Terrell] Suggs, [Ray] Lewis. You could go down a whole list of guys, and so it was never a lot of fun to play those guys. I think it’s a lot of respect, and it’s going to be pretty cool.”
Roethlisberger, whom the Steelers selected 11th overall in April 2004, made his first NFL appearance in September of that year during a Week 2 outing against the Ravens. He replaced an injured Tommy Maddox and had a pair of touchdowns and interceptions in the 30-13 loss to their division rival.
Roethlisberger later capped off his first season by being named the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2004. He went on to win two Super Bowls for the 2005 and 2008 seasons and was also named to the Pro Bowl six times, among other accolades.
There is a slim chance Roethlisberger’s career extends for at least another week as the Steelers have yet to be eliminated from playoff contention. Pittsburgh would need to beat Baltimore, have Jacksonville defeat the Colts and have the Chargers-Raiders game not end in a tie to reach the postseason.
It’s long been speculated that the 2021 season would be Roethlisberger’s last. The 39-year-old quarterback has thrown for 3,496 yards in 15 games this season, along with 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
In what was likely Roethlisberger’s final home game in Pittsburgh on Monday night, the Steelers defeated the Browns, 26-14.
Although Sunday’s game in Baltimore will serve as a salute to Ravens great Terrell Suggs, a Steelers win would tie a bow on Roethlisberger’s Hall of Fame-caliber career.
