Did Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Reveal His Preferred Inductor For Canton Ohio In 2027?

The Pittsburgh Steelers have two quarterbacks who spent a significant portion of their career with the organization in the Hall of Fame. Terry Bradshaw, of course, and Bobby Layne, who spent five seasons with the Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger will join them at some point in the next few years. His first year of eligibility to be elected is in 2027. When the voting begins, Roethlisberger possesses all the counting stats for what should be a first-ballot election.

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The Hall of Fame has not been kind to the Pittsburgh Steelers. LC Greenwood and Andy Russell have been overlooked for decades. Greg Lloyd has incredibly never gotten serious support for Hall of Fame induction. If you use Deion Sanders' standard for an upper room at the Hall of Fame, I’d like to see the bouncer who is going to tell Lloyd he doesn’t belong in it, especially if he is flanked by James Harrison and Hines Ward (who are modern Steelers that also belong in Canton, OH).

Roethlisberger has not openly discussed the Hall of Fame or his induction until Episode 33 of the Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger podcast. Spencer Te’o and the former Super Bowl Champion welcomed Charlie Batch as the first repeat guest in the podcast’s history.  

In the final segment of the podcast, three beer tastings in, Roethlisberger suggested that Bob Pompeani wanted him to take his former backup’s job of doing the Steelers' pregame and preseason games on KDKA. The subject of Roethlisberger’s eventual induction into the Hall of Fame was brought up gently by Batch.

“Take your time. You don’t have to do it right away,” Batch joked. “Give me at least until 2027 before you get up there to the Hall of Fame. You give that speech up there in Canton. I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to it in August 2027. Literally, when that happened, I sent you an email and a calendar invite. August of 2027, if he goes to his phone, he will see an invite, Charlie attending Ben’s Hall of Fame.”

Batch and Roethlisberger are close friends. They worked together from his rookie season until Batch retired in 2012. A Steel Valley High School alumni, the former Detroit Lions starter might have found a starting job in the NFL by leaving Pittsburgh. Batch chose to stay and back up Roethlisberger and played in 33 games for the Steelers, starting nine in eight years. He was also in the quarterback room for three Super Bowl trips and received two world championship rings after Super XL and Super Bowl XLIII.

"I posted it on social media," Batch continued. "I blocked it all out just to let everybody know that the next time I am going to Canton is going to be then. I'm telling you I have it in my phone and can pull it out and show you."

Roethlisberger was grinning from ear to ear in what appeared to be embarrassment. It is possible that some Hall of Fame hypocrites who ignored the Ray Lewis murder allegations to induct him on the first ballot could pull similar shenanigans to what Terrell Owens endured before he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. That could explain why Roethlisberger has been mostly silent on the subject. 

"There is zero doubt that if I ever get blessed to be in there, that Charlie will be there," Roethlisberger grinned. "If you are not busy. I'm going to invite you. You know you'll be there, Chuck."

It is not a definitive statement that he will be presenting, but Roethlisberger and Batch have a camaraderie and trust that is obvious. There is genuine affection between the two, and zero doubt implies that the eloquent Batch will get an opportunity to revisit the national stage at least once more in 2027. 

The NFL and their broadcasting partners have strangely ignored what Batch can offer as a broadcaster, executive, or coach. Batch was the longtime Steelers player rep for the NFLPA, and he eventually groomed Ryan Clark for the position. This author has suggested that he would make an excellent NFL offensive coordinator that Mike Tomlin should seriously consider hiring. 

Batch did excellent work as a surrogate with a young Roethlisberger to help him understand what Ken Whisenhunt and Bruce Arians were trying to accomplish. His steady, calm influence could help Kenny Pickett as, at the very least, his quarterback coach, if not coordinator. The failure of the Steelers and the NFL to find a leadership position for the obviously qualified Batch is shameful. 

What do you think, Steeler Nation? Are you excited about Batch potentially presenting Roethlisberger for the Hall of Fame? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq. 

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