K9 “Steel” is the newest member of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office, thanks to The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation!


“Steel” joins three other police K9s in this Virginia department. He is a Czech Shepherd born on June 5, 2015 in the Czech Republic. He now lives with his handler, Deputy B. Demerci and his family.

This is Deputy Demerci’s first time working a police dog. Steel and Deputy Demerci received their Police K-9 Handler Team Certification after graduating from the Virginia Police K9 Association/Professional Canine Services, Inc. just a couple of weeks ago, on November 18th. Steel is certified in Police Patrol/Utility and K9 Explosives Detection.

Then this happened…

Within a week of graduating from K9 School, Deputy Demerci and K9 Steel were dispatched to a robbery call while out on patrol. After a perimeter was established, this 4-legged rookie was able to track the suspect behind a fence into an enclosed back yard. The suspect was taken in to custody without further incident or injury to anyone. But Steel wasn’t done! He was then able to track the suspected weapon used in the attempted robbery under a blanket in a nearby baby stroller.

Thank you, Ben, for giving this grant to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. The expansion of the K9 unit will certainly assist in the protection of the citizens and the community in which Steel will serve. Organizations such as The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation are priceless. There are no words to express the appreciation felt for the Ben and his foundation for giving us the opportunity to grow within the unit and department. The citizens of Stafford County, as well as the Sheriff’s Office, will certainly benefit from this generous contribution. — The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit (with a special shout out to Lt. Julie Smith of the Fairfax County, VA Sheriff’s Office).



Ben made the choice of a team to root for a lot easier for the Bistany Family.

Dear Ben,

My name is Jesse Bistany and I am a Sheriff Lieutenant in the state of New Jersey.

I wanted to take this time to personally tell you that I appreciate everything you do for law enforcement!!! As a 42-year old male who loves football, baseball has […]

From Teresa Varley, Steelers.com:

Ben Roethlisberger knows this is the time of year things need to heat up.

It’s the time of year when the temperatures are dropping in Pittsburgh, but on the football field things are heating up for the Steelers.

December football goes into full effect on Sunday at Heinz Field against the New York Giants, a time when everyone has to elevate their game as the hunt for a playoff spot is on.

“It’s when you get hot, now is the time to be at your best,” said Ben Roethlisberger. “The weather gets bad and that is what we love. It’s time to go out and play football and do anything you can to win a football game, whether it’s 50-0 or 2-0. Whatever you have to do to win a football game.”

And what the Steelers will have to do is bring their ‘A’ game against a Giants team that comes in with an 8-3 record, and has rattled off six straight wins. But Roethlisberger feels the Steelers have what it takes to make the stretch run count, starting this week.

“We have a good combination of veteran guys that have been there and done that, with some young guys that are playing good football right now,” said Roethlisberger. “We fought through some injuries and are getting healthy and have that little extra time to get ready to go. We have one of the best football teams in the NFL right now coming to our place. What an awesome challenge for this time of year.”

The Giants bring a no-nonsense defense, but it’s a defense that is menacing.

“They are a very good defense,” said Roethlisberger. “They don’t do a lot. It’s not like they give you a lot of exotic looks and do a lot craziness. They just line up and beat you. They beat you with a pass rush that gets home and forces you to throw it quick. Their coverage is so good they find ways to create turnovers or break the ball up. This is going to be a big challenged for us.

“This is similar to the Cowboys. You have a small menu of things and you do them well. There isn’t anything wrong with that. We do that on […]

From Ben’s radio show this morning on 93.7 The Fan:

The team is coming off a 28-7 Thanksgiving Day victory over the Indianapolis Colts, which brought another Antonio Brown celebration penalty.

Ben was asked about Brown’s latest antics and if anyone on the team has talked to him about it.

“Yeah, we did,” Ben said. “He knows, we all know, Coach Tomlin brought it up yesterday, that is a huge penalty that we can’t do. We put our kick coverage team in a bad situation and we can’t have it, and AB knows that.”

Ben also thinks that the league pays special attention to Brown now because of his reputation and are more likely to flag him when they’re playing on a bigger stage.

“I know for a fact that he’s scored touchdowns in one o’clock games that aren’t the big prime time games and they haven’t flagged him,” he said.

Moving on past the Colts victory, Ben talked about the three days off the team had and what it’s like having that luxury.

“It’s nice to have that family time to almost have a mini-second bye,” Ben said. “It makes you feel rested, it makes you get more healed up for this stretch run that is when you have to play your best football. I really think it will benefit us.”

The win over the Colts marks the second straight victory for the Steelers after a four-game losing streak. However, there are some that still aren’t sold on the Steelers because of their opponents in those games – the Colts and Browns. Ben discussed the detractors and what he would say to anyone levying this criticism against the team.

“I would say this, I would say they were both on the road, which any time you can win a game on the road is huge and I would say remember back a couple of weeks when we’d go on the road and we’d lose a game to a team that we were supposed to win and everyone is up in arms and no one can sleep at night because we lost a game we were supposed to win. Well, we won the games we were supposed to win, so they should feel good about that,” he said.


You can listen to Ben’s show here.

…and we’re giving away 1 Black & Gold Cooler gift pack to the 28th emailer (that’s how many days are left ’til Christmas morning)!


UPDATE: WE HAVE A WINNER!! Congratulations to Doug Foster of Kansas! He was our 28th emailer. Thank you to everyone who emailed to enter!



If you’re looking for the perfect gift for that Steelers fan in the family who also loves Pittsburgh Dad (and really, who doesn’t love Pittsburgh Dad?), then this gift set is IT:

The Black & Gold Cooler consists of:
3 Big Ben Sauces
3 Pittsburgh Dad Sauces
Mild BBQ Sauce (18oz)
Steak Sauce (10oz)
Spicy Wing Sauce (18oz)
Dipping Mustard (7.75oz)
Commemorative Edition Habenera Sauce (5oz)
Cayenne Hot Sauce (6oz)
– All neatly packaged in a Black & Gold “It’s a Burgh Thing” insulated cooler which can hold a 12 pack of your beverage of choice!

*Ben’s portion of the proceeds will benefit The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation and a portion of Pittsburgh Dad’s will benefit Children’s Hospital Pittsburgh.


Just send your email to bigben7website@gmail.com (one entry per email address). A winner will be notified and posted here this evening.


Need help with your holiday gift list?

A gift box or just one bottle of Big Ben’s Wing Sauce or Hot Sauce makes the perfect gift for family, neighbors, co-workers and those hardworking people that deliver your mail, babysit your children, cut your hair, mow your lawn, wash your dog, etc…

You can check out their full line of products & place your order for the holiday here.

On this Thanksgiving Holiday, we have two fan stories to share with Steeler Nation:

My wife Teri, my son Chad, and I met Ben while we were shopping at the Apple Store at Ross Park Mall. When Chad saw him in the store he was so excited that he wanted to go up to him and say, “Hi!”. He has been a BIG fan of Ben since he started playing with the Steelers. Ben was so gracious, and took time to not only say “Hi”, but to pose for a picture with Chad.

Thank you to Ben! He didn’t just make Chad’s day – he made his year! He was telling everyone that he saw all day today that he met “#7 Big Ben”! You just never know who your going to meet when your out and about in the Pittsburgh area.” — Bob Lewandowski.

I came in from Dallas/Norman, OK for the OU vs West VA game and then on to Cleveland to watch the Steelers vs Browns game last Sunday.

My buddy Mark – a local and a ‘burgh lifer – and I went to Hyde Park Steakhouse Friday night. We were seated in one of just a couple of tables in the back portion of the restaurant. Well, half-way thru our meal, Ben and his wife and some friends came in and sat at the table right next to us.

We chatted him up briefly about Norman, and his sister’s participation in basketball and volleyball there. He was extremely nice and gracious.

Later in the evening, I asked for a picture and he could not have been nicer. I never like to be that guy, but given I don’t get to the ‘burgh that often, I had to ask for the picture. Ben could not have been nicer and was happy to pose with me. We wished him well and told him we would see him Sunday in Cleveland. Thank you Ben!! — Matthew P. Sallusti.

Wishing everyone a very safe & Happy Thanksgiving and holiday weekend!!