Steelers Great Ben Roethlisberger Seriously Contemplated Ending His Career Elsewhere

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a legendary history that is highlighted by a ton of Hall Of Famers and future Hall Of Famers. The organization has been one of the most successful in the NFL over the years, and it has been dominant throughout multiple decades. One of the most important players throughout the franchise's history was quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who led the Steelers to two Super Bowl championships during the 2000s. Roethlisberger is one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and Pittsburgh fans were lucky to see him spend his entire career in the black and gold.

Roethlisberger spent 18 seasons with the Steelers after being selected with the 11th overall pick by the organization during the 2004 NFL Draft. He was one of the top quarterbacks in the league throughout his entire career, despite the quarterback clearly losing some arm strength at the backend of it after suffering an elbow injury at the start of the 2019 season. 

Roethlisberger joined The Uncomfortable Chat on Wednesday, and he was asked about joining a team besides the Steelers. The former quarterback revealed a time when he had the decision to leave the organization.

"You know, I did have a chance, not a chance, a choice, to go somewhere else." Roethlisberger said. "You know, we talked about it and prayed about it. It just didn't feel right. Like I'm one of the very few people that played, like I am the longest tenured at one place. Like I know [Tom] Brady played longer, but at one place, and I never went anywhere else."

The future Hall Of Famer didn't get into the specifics of having the decision to leave the Steelers. He didn't clarify what team he could have gone to or what year it happened, but it was certainly a tough decision. Most quarterbacks end their careers in a different place than where they spent the majority of their career. This was seen with Tom Brady, Phillip Rivers and Matt Ryan. It is also currently being seen with Aaron Rodgers as he is in his second season with the New York Jets.

Roethlisberger's play certainly declined near the end of his career, but he was still a starting quarterback capable of winning games. It would have killed most Steelers fans if they had to see Roethlisberger suit up in another team's uniform, and only playing for one organization was important to Roethlisberger.

"To be able to hang it up and say that I only put on the black and gold, to me that was more special than going somewhere else." Roethlisberger said. "I mean there's some great organizations, some great franchises that would remind me of Pittsburgh. You know like a Chicago, that loves its town. Green Bay loves its team. Things like that, but at the end of the day, I would rather hang it up in the black and gold."

It seemed like the former quarterback's career was in jeopardy when he suffered an elbow injury at the start of the 2019 season, but he was able to come back and play two more seasons for Pittsburgh. The Steelers made the playoffs in his last two seasons, with his last game coming against the Kansas City Chiefs during the Wild Card Round of the 2021 campaign.

Steelers Gave Roethlisberger A Decision To Stay Or Leave

Roethlisberger wouldn't clarify when he made this decision to stay in Pittsburgh, but it is reasonable to think it was towards the end of his career. Ahead of his last season in 2021 the quarterback took a $5 million pay cut by restructuring his contract, so it is fair to assume that the decision may have come around this time. 

The organization could have presented Roethlisberger with the choice of taking a pay cut or being released, where Roethlisberger would have hit the open market and been free to sign elsewhere.

Did you ever think Roethlisberger would leave Pittsburgh? Let us know in the comments below!

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