The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. They had the 11th pick overall and decided to draft a quarterback in the first round for just the third time in franchise history. Roethlisberger joined the Steelers, Tommy Maddox got hurt, and 18 seasons and two Super Bowl championships later, he has an express ticket to the Hall of Fame.
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Ben Roethlisberger (right) replaced Tommy Maddox (left) as the Steelers’ starting quarterback after Maddox suffered an elbow injury two games into the 2004 season.
There were some twists and turns along the way, but Roethlisberger’s accomplishments as a player are overwhelming. Fifth all-time in passing yards, most career 500-yard passing games, most career-perfect passer ratings, and the list goes on and on. As impressive as his statistical resume is, the thing that many in Steeler Nation will remember is his legendary toughness. Roethlisberger played with pain. That is common knowledge, but what isn’t is the extent to which he often was injured.
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Steelers HOF snub LC Greenwood leaps to block Bengals snub Ken Anderson pass.
On Wednesday, Ken Anderson, the former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback and Steelers quarterback coach, joined Dave Lapham on his In The Trenches podcast. He is a former league MVP and is often near the top of the list when Hall of Fame snubs are discussed. Anderson related that ESPN used some manipulative tactics to ascertain Roethlisberger's health heading into Super Bowl XLV.
"I do remember one thing that happened in Pittsburgh," Anderson begins. "The only coaches that talked to the media were the head coach and coordinators. We got to Friday's practice, and Andrea Kremer was going to be the sideline reporter, and I knew her for a long time. 'Kenny, what's the deal on Ben's rib? He got it X-rayed last night.' I don't know anything about it. He was fine during the week. I never heard him complaining."
Roethlisberger was not fine. It was later revealed that he played with two broken ribs against the Arizona Cardinals in the game. In fairness to Anderson, not even the training staff was fully aware of the injury to Roethlisberger's ribs. The two-time Super Bowl champion intended to play in the Super Bowl after a subpar performance in the Super Bowl XL victory against the Seattle Seahawks.
"Sunday morning of the game, I'm out taking a walk," Anderson continues. "We're at our undisclosed hotel, but unfortunately, there were three satellite trucks outside our hotel. One of the reporters runs up and says, 'Kenny, how's Ben?' He's fine. I go back; I turn on the broadcast, and let's go to Ron Jaworski. 'We've got the live report from Miami that Ken Anderson says Ben Roethlisberger is fine. I've known Kenny a long time, and if he says Roethlisberger is fine, he's fine.'"
The late-game heroics by Roethlisberger are magnified by the agony he must have been in when he threw that pass to Santonio Holmes. Holmes got the MVP, but it is worth wondering if Roethlisberger's true health status had been accurately reported, if the voting would have gone differently.
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If Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was upset with Ken Anderson's confirmation of Ben Roethlisberger's status for Super Bowl XLV, he did not show it.
The former league MVP did not realize the extent of Roethlisberger's injury and had no idea he was confirming his quarterback's health status to a hungry media hoping for a scoop. After realizing what he had done, Anderson admits he was worried about how Mike Tomlin and Roethlisberger might react to the ESPN reporting.
"Oh my god, now I'm nervous to death to go down to the pregame meal," Anderson concluded. "Ben's going to be pissed, the head coach is going to be pissed. I'm a wreck. Luckily, no one said anything about anything."
Anderson spent three seasons with the Steelers as the quarterback coach for Roethlisberger from 2007-2009 under Bruce Arians. He coached 17 seasons with the Bengals, Steelers, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Anderson retired from coaching after the 2009 season, fulfilling his three-year contract in Pittsburgh.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Made A Massive Mistake And Nearly Sat Out Super Bowl XLV
Roethlisberger would go on to one more Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl XLV against the Green Bay Packers. Ironically, he injured himself the night before that game. He played that Super Bowl with a special shoe to protect a huge cut he sustained on his foot while horsing around with his family the night before.
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Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger leaves the field after losing Super Bowl XLV to Green Bay.
The Steelers lost to the Packers after falling into a deep hole early in the game in Aaron Rodgers' only appearance in the Super Bowl. Roethlisberger never found his way back to the big game and the Super Bowl MVP Award he so desperately coveted.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? If Pittsburgh had been aware of Roethlisberger's broken ribs and the media reported on them, would he have won the MVP? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
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