“There’s something different about it. The quarterback-center relationship is unlike any other in sports. The relationship and communication you want to have with the one guy in front of you, you genuinely need him more than anything else. That’s what makes the center position so special.” — Ben on Maurkice.

From Jelani Scott, NFL.com:

The NFL bid adieu to the Pouncey brothers last week, a decision that meant the end of an era for Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers.

Given their rock solid rapport, it seemed likely that Roethlisberger and Maurkice Pouncey, teammates for 11 seasons, would one day decide to call it quits together. Instead, the veteran center elected to ride off into the sunset while Pittsburgh and the veteran QB continue to decide what’s best for the team come next season.

Continuing his career without the big fella is a harsh reality Big Ben will have to deal with should he return as expected.

“I hate to say he’s the greatest teammate and competitor I’ve ever been around, but at the end of the day that’s what it is — he’s the greatest teammate and competitor I’ve been around,” Roethlisberger said Friday, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “And that’s no slight to anybody else.”

The 2020 Steelers turned in one of the franchise’s best seasons in recent memory, finishing first in the AFC North with a 14-2 record. The team had high hopes heading into the postseason but ended up flaming out early against the Browns. Roethlisberger and Pouncey, perhaps sensing their run was coming to an end, shared a heart-to-heart moment on the bench following the wild-card loss.

“I’m sorry, brother. You’re the only reason I wanted to do this, man,” an emotional Big Ben told Pouncey. “Oh, I feel worse for you than me. I hate it, man.”

In addition to telling Dulac that he’s “still processing” Pouncey’s departure, Roethlisberger shared that the type of on-field relationship the tandem had is among the strongest you’ll find between a pair of athletes anywhere.

“I’d love to ask other quarterbacks who have played with one guy for a long time how close they were with their center,” he said. “I’m sure they’d say he’s one of their best friends.”


You can read more here.

I know, I know, you already knew that, but WalletHub.com makes it “official”!



The study uses 21 key metrics, including NFL fan engagement #1, number of championship wins #1, performance level of NFL Team #7, stadium capacity #4 and more.

Pittsburgh ranked number 1 out of 245 cities in the United States.

The Steelers were the first franchise to win six Super Bowls, a feat that they now share with the New England Patriots.

The study also looked at cities with at least one college team. Pittsburgh ranked 13th in the college section.

You can check out their findings here.


And:

On this day in Steelers history…

the team won their sixth Super Bowl Championship.

February 1, 2009
Super Bowl XLIII
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Florida
Steelers 27, Arizona Cardinals 23

It took last second heroics in both halves of Super Bowl XLIII for the Steelers to make history and become the first NFL franchise to win six Super Bowl championships.

The Steelers were holding on to a 10-7 lead near the end of the first half when the Cardinals Karlos Dansby intercepted a tipped Ben Roethlisberger pass at the Steelers 33-yard line. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner moved his team into scoring position with completions to Tim Hightower, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

With the ball at the one-yard line and just 18 seconds to play in the half, the Cardinals were anticipating Lawrence Timmons and James Harrison blitzing, but Harrison gambled and dropped back in coverage and intercepted Warner’s pass at the goal line.

What happened after that, nobody could ever have expected. Harrison headed up the sideline, following his blockers and evaded would-be tacklers for a 100-yard touchdown return and 17-7 Steelers lead going into the half.

The Steelers added a third quarter field goal for a 20-7 lead, but the Cardinals mounted a major fourth quarter comeback. Warner connected with Fitzgerald for a 1-yard touchdown to bring the Cardinals within a score at 20-14.

With just 2:30 remaining on the clock Roethlisberger took control, completing four passes for 78 yards, including a 40-yarder to Santonio Holmes, to give the Steelers the ball at the six-yard line. With time ticking away, Roethlisberger found Holmes in the corner of the end zone where he remarkably managed to keep both feet in bounds for the 27-23 lead.


More from Teresa Varley here.