NFL starting quarterback retires after 17 years in league; Students react to Roethlisberger departure

 Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger, sr. also known as “Big Ben”, is a recently retired American football player. He played the quarterback position in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Before that, he played college football at Miami University and was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, according to ESPN.

     Junior Braxton Rivers describes his career as, “A career like a rollercoaster, ups and downs and a great ending.”

    The NFL says Big Ben’s career stats with the Steelers include 249 career starts, his record is 165-81-1 which means he had 165 wins, 81 losses, and one tie.

      His completion rating was 64.4% which is derived from his 5,440 completions divided by his 8,443 attempts, reports ESPN, which also states that Roethlisberger’s combined passing yards over the entirety of his career is 64,088 and his total touchdowns over his career is 418 completed touchdown passes.

     According to ESPN, the athlete also threw 211 interceptions in his career and was sacked for a combined number of 554 times not counting the times he was hit after he got rid of the ball.

      Big Ben led his team to 41 fourth-quarter comebacks and 53 game winning drives, according to ESPN. 

     “Although he was not the greatest person ever, there is no denying he is a legend and he was a really good quarterback in his prime,” junior Alex Tobias says. “It hurts me as a Ravens fan to say it but he is definitely a top 10 all time in his position, and it’s the end of an era for the Ravens vs Steelers rivalry.”

        Along with those accomplishments described above, Big Ben is a two-time Super Bowl champion. He also has Six Pro Bowl selections in which he earned these nods in 2007, 2011 and 2014-17. 

     Roethlisberger is also a two-time NFL passing yards leader who threw for 4,952 yards in the 2014 season and 5,129 yards in 2018 season. While also leading the league in passing completions and attempts in the 2018 season. 

     In Big Ben’s Rookie year, he earned the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. When he was drafted he was set to be the backup to Tommy Maddox, but after Maddox suffered an injury in the second game of the 2004 season it created the opening for him to become the starter. He finished this season 13-0 in the regular season.

     “I believe that it is about time that Big Ben retires from football and focuses more on his children and family after a long career”, says junior Corbon Rowley.