Steelers QB Roethlisberger To Return For 2021 Season: Report

PITTSBURGH, PA — A week after briefly hinting at retirement if his performance did not improve, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will return for an 18th season in 2021.

A formal announcement has not come from Roethlisberger or the Steelers, but ESPN reported on Monday that he will be back to fulfill the final year of his contract.

Roethlisberger said following the Steelers' loss to the Buffalo Bills last week that if he no longer can play at a high level he'll need to "hang it up." He backtracked on that comment a day later, saying it was an emotional reaction to the defeat.

"Obviously, some of that is just frustration from the game, but I will always go home every week and evaluate the way that I played, the way that I feel, pry heavily over it," Roethlisberger said. "I feel like when the time is right, I'll know it. So, I'm going to go out there this week and give it everything I have to get this team back on track, because I feel it is a special team."

After missing most of last season with an elbow injury, Roethlisberger has thrown for 3,292 yards and 29 touchdown going into Monday night's game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He will count $41.2 million against the Steelers salary cap next year.