(Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Ben Roethlisberger, 39, is heading into his 18th season with the Steelers, and he's hoping to capture one more Lombardi Trophy before he hangs it up, which many believe will be at the end of this season. Roethlisberger is a two-time Super Bowl champion and the only player on the Steelers roster who has won a Super Bowl. He's also a future Hall of Famer.
At 39 years of age, Roethlisberger is 11 years older than the second-oldest player on the Steelers offense, which is tight end Eric Ebron. Roethlisberger has almost two decades of wisdom and understanding of what it means to be a Steeler, which is something he's hoping to pass on to the next generation.
“I think my goal in all this, in all the years and all the experiences I have, is to do the best I can to pass down Steeler tradition and Steeler history, what it means to wear the black-and-gold,” Roethlisberger told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. “That’s what I try and do everyday, just let these guys know what it takes and what it means, and what’s expected of you when you put this jersey on every day.
“It’s something that I don’t know you can ever really put into words for the person that’s not here. But it means a lot. These fans bleed black-and-gold, so we need to bleed black-and-gold. And I do. I think a lot of guys on this field do. Young guys are still learning it. But I think as soon as they step on the field in Week 2 at Heinz Field, and the fans are going nuts, they’re gonna understand what it is to play for this team.”
It should be quite a scene when the Steelers have their home opener against the Raiders in Week 2, as it was real depressing to see an empty Heinz Field for most of the games last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hopefully, by the end of Roethlisberger's 2021 campaign, he can uplift Steelers Nation one last time and deliver another Lombardi Trophy to the Steel City, and go out on top as Jerome Bettis did in Detroit after Super Bowl XL.