18 years, 249 games, one team – Ben Roethlisberger’s career in the NFL is impressive. In the crushing loss in the Wild Card Game at the Kansas City Chiefs, the 39-year-old probably played his last game for the Pittsburgh Steelers and will most likely end his professional career. After the game, “Big Ben” once again let his emotions run free.

Munich – When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected a 21-year-old quarterback at the eleventh spot in the draft on April 24, 2004, officials could only hope that they had indeed found their franchise quarterback.

They were not disappointed: Ben Roethlisberger brought them two Super Bowl victories over the next 18 years, he goes down in NFL history as one of the best playmakers.

Now the 39-year-old will in all likelihood hang up his career and can look back on numerous successes and awards.

Roethlisberger with emotional speech after Chiefs game

In keeping with Big Ben’s impressive career, he also made history in his very last NFL game. With his 215 yards in a 21:42 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Roethlisberger jumped into third place on the all-time list of quarterbacks with the most passing yards in the playoffs, passing two legends in the process.

First he passed Joe Montana and his 5,772 yards, later he also passed Packers icon Brett Favre and now has 5,972 passing yards on his account.

After the game, Big Ben spoke highly of his team, even though they lost the Wild Card Game: “It’s tough, but I’m so proud to play with these guys. God has blessed me with the ability to throw a football and play in the greatest city, Pittsburgh, with the greatest fans and the greatest team and players.”

The future Hall of Famer said it was fate that the Steelers selected him in 2004 and not the ten other teams before.

Ben Roethlisberger gets emotional upon mentioning the late Mr. Rooney: pic.twitter.com/h7Dc0Dd5m3

– Dejan Kovacevic (@Dejan_Kovacevic) January 17, 2022

“I am just so grateful. I hope I was able to pass on the legacy of what it means to be a Steeler. By Dan Rooney,” he explained while fighting back tears. “We all miss him. Everyone who knew him misses him.”

Rooney was the former Steelers president and owner who explicitly lobbied for Roethlisberger to come to Pittsburgh in 2004.

Hall of Fame is safe

After his unprecedented career, an induction into the NFL Hall of Fame is absolutely out of the question. Not only is Roethlisberger one of eleven quarterbacks in NFL history to win multiple Super Bowls, he is also the youngest starting quarterback to secure a ring at the age of 22.

Big Ben has always stressed from the beginning that winning is the only statistic that counts for him. It’s not for nothing that he still holds the record for most wins as a rookie quarterback – a full 13 times the Steelers walked off the field victorious in Roehtlisberger’s debut season.

Ben Roethlisberger walks off the field for what could be the final time in his NFL career. HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/L5JBc2dWyk

– Super Bowl LVI on NBC (@SNFonNBC) January 17, 2022

Now that the current season has come to a relatively abrupt end, the 39-year-old expressed gratitude for his teammates and the franchise: “A bunch of guys who fought for each other. It wasn’t always pretty, but we always found a way.”

No, Roethlisberger has not officially resigned yet. But the words after the play-off exit sounded a lot like it. “Even in this game we fought until the end,” Big Ben continued. “I’m so proud of the squad and how we’re there for each other, for Black and Gold and for the fans. It was an honour to play with them.”