Is this the final year of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger? Well, if you were to ask Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert, the organization isn't focused on anything passed the 2021 season right now. In a tweet sent out by NFL Network reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala, the NFL front office member seemed focused on the current season and nothing more.
"2021 is all we're worried about with Ben," Colbert said as the club's camp opened Tuesday, "… Beyond that, none of us know."
As a 39 year old quarterback with an injury history, most recently in September 2019, the future is definitely in question. With that being said, Roethlisberger was more than capable of playing at a high level last year, leading the Steelers to a playoff run that was short lived, but exciting.
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Later in the day, the GM told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that Roethlisberger was committed to playing this upcoming season at the finish of last season before the beginning of the offseason.
"He came to us shortly after the season ended and said, it's my intention, I'm playing in 2021," Colbert said to Rapoport. "That was, OK, that's the starting point, your mindset is here now, let's try and find a way to make it work. He and Ryan were very workable. When you do a deal or redo a deal, everybody has to accept it and he was more than willing, not only to accept it but he initiated it. It kind of indicated (his intentions) right out the gate. We just had to figure out how to make it work."
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And make it work, they did. I've already written another article on Roethlisberger's agreement to take a reduced salary to help ensure not only his future, but the entire organization's financial future as they look to re-sign players next offseason. For the future of Roethlisberger, there seems to be no sign of him wanting to slow down, as echoed by Colbert.
How many more years will we see Roethlisberger in a Steelers uniform? What should the front office do to replace their legendary veteran quarterback? Comment below!
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