Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger Retires

PITTSBURGH, PA — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger announced his retirement Thursday, ending an 18-year career that almost certainly will lead to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Roethlisberger, 39, announced the move via Twitter.

"The time has come to clean out my locker, hang up my cleats, and continue to be all I can be to my wife and children," he said. "I retire from football a truly grateful man."

Steelers owner Art Rooney II called Roethlisberger "an integral part of our success" since he was drafted in 2004.

"We are forever grateful for all the success he has helped bring to the organization the past 18 years," Rooney said in a statement. "Ben will always be viewed as one of the all-time greats in our team history, and his determination, toughness and competitiveness will be remembered by everyone in the organization as well as Steeler Nation throughout the world."

Roethlisberger exits the NFL as one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game.

He was the quarterback on two Super Bowl-winning teams, won the NFL Rookie of the Year award and passed for 64,088 yards, the fifth-most in league history. He ranks eighth in passing touchdowns with 418, just behind Pittsburgh native Dan Marino (420) and former San Diego Charger and Indianapolis Colt Philip Rivers (421).

Roethlisberger, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are the only quarterbacks in NFL history who have thrown for 50,000 yards and won at least two Super Bowls. He holds 50 Steelers quarterback records and holds or is tied for 52 team records.

Former Steelers coach Bill Cowher, now a CBS football analyst, said it was an honor to coach Roethlisberger as he began his career.

"He truly represents what the Pittsburgh Steelers are," Cowher said via Twitter. "He played the game with grit, determination and resiliency, and his passion for the game was evident throughout his career."

Big Ben's retirement comes three weeks after his last game at Heinz Field on Jan. 3, in which the Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns, 26-14. After the game, he walked around the stadium giving fans high-fives before greeting his wife and three children in the end zone.

Roethlisberger's storied career ended Jan. 16 in a blowout 42-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs.

Roethlisberger, who played college football at Miami University in Ohio, was the 11th player taken in the 2004 NFL draft. He was the first quarterback the Steelers selected in the first round since Mark Malone in 1980.

The retirement, though not unexpected, leaves the Steelers with a gaping hole at the quarterback position. Mason Rudolph, Dwayne Haskins and Joshua Dobbs remain on the roster, but coach Mike Tomlin has indicated another quarterback will be brought in to compete for the starting job.

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