Part One takes us back to the 2019 offseason. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, amid public scrutiny, is eager to get back on the field in hopes to make the conversation about football again. With the 2019 training camp starting and things getting back to normal, Ben and the team suffer a devastating loss of a close friend and coach. Attempting to rally the team and bounce back from this tragic loss, Ben suffers a potentially career-ending injury in week two of the 2019 regular season.

From Bob Labriola’s Q&A on Steelers.com:

You just have to know where to go!

MELVIN GIBBONS FROM WASILLA, AK: We’ve not seen anything on television about Ben Roethlisberger, and when do the Steelers play their first game?

BOB: If you’re looking for information on Ben Roethlisberger, I would suggest Steelers.com, where there are stories, videos, and Zoom interviews available that chronicle him and the team from the time training camp opened in late July. As of now, and things could change, the Steelers regular season opener is at 7:15 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14 at the New York Giants.


All indications point to….

MARK O’MALLEY FROM MANTUA, OH: JuJu Smith-Schuster had a disappointing drop-off in production last year…I read he worked very hard in the offseason to gain strength and hand skills. Have you seen any indication in camp that JuJu might return to his former exciting player status?

BOB: I have seen some indications, yes. He’s wearing No. 7.


Notable quotes:

“I figured with the surgery he would come back a brand new person, and it’s definitely showing. He is throwing the ball great. He is doing everything great. In the scrimmage the other night it was nice to see the No. 7 jersey back out there.” – James Washington on Big Ben.

“The thing about Ben is he is so spontaneous. He has been doing it for so long. The experience he has, he is able to go into the game and do no-huddle and just call plays from the back of his head. Having him back is a plus for us.” – JuJu Smith-Schuster.

It’s a Throwback TUESDAY!

Backyard football with Big Ben. @_BigBen7 pic.twitter.com/DagYjbuQRq

— NFL Throwback (@nflthrowback) August 25, 2020

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s…

Steelers photographer Karl Roser sees the team’s starting quarterback surveying the field during a day off – But Steeler Nation sees Super 7!!


*Thanks to @BigSteelerMood for this one! Lol!

…and we’re wishing a very Happy Birthday to this cute little lady who is now the ‘same number’ as her favorite player!!

“It is Adalynn’s 7th Birthday. She attended her first Steelers game last year, and is now a diehard fan of the Steelers and Big Ben!” — Alise Exley.

Have a fun birthday weekend, Adalynn!!

but this HAS to be the Picture of the Week!



Peter Diana @peterdianapghpg
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger drops back to pass during afternoon practice at Heinz Field.
@PittsburghPG @PGVisuals @PGSportsNow

From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

They haven’t been teammates for long, but if there is one person who knows Ben Roethlisberger well in the Steelers locker room, it’s Vance McDonald.

The two have lockers next to each other at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex, but they just don’t bond together in the locker room, they are also close outside of the facility where they spend time together with their families.

McDonald knows what last year was like for Roethlisberger, how frustrating it was for him to miss almost the entire year after suffering a season-ending elbow injury. That is why it excites McDonald to see Roethlisberger back the way he is during the team’s training camp.

“I would say he is all the way back, for sure,” said McDonald. “This is the most I have ever seen Ben in terms of his hunger for winning a championship. I can respect that being down last season made it more real for him. Going through a heavy surgery for a quarterback and where he is now, it made him hungrier. The way he attacks the day is different. I am loving the leadership from him, the hunger, the fire. You will notice that trickle down to the entire offense. Guys are just flocking to him. The hunger is real from Ben.”

While McDonald is seeing Roethlisberger in camp now, he also worked with him this offseason when players got together on their own.

“He was pushing some of his throws and arm action to test it, whether to build confidence at that point,” said McDonald. “He was making some insane throws off his back foot, cross field to Diontae Johnson running through the end zone to the back pylon. I remember thinking at that moment, ‘golly, he is really back.’ It’s crazy and awesome to see.”


You can read more here.