From Bob Labriola, Steelers.com this evening:

“TV loves the Steelers on primetime”

In 2014, the Steelers will play the maximum number of five games on prime-time.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off back-to-back 8-8 seasons and they didn’t qualify for the playoffs either time, which marked the first multi-year absence from the postseason for the first time since a year-season span from 1998-2000.

Those facts are undeniable, and upon the release of the league’s 2014 schedule, so is this: the three television networks that broadcast NFL football in prime-time still love the Steelers.

The maximum number of prime-time games that can be included on a team’s initial schedule is five, and the Steelers are maxed out in that department for 2014. The NFL does reserve the right to flex a team into a sixth prime-time appearance, but as of today the Steelers are as popular with the networks as any other franchise in the league when it comes to drawing eyeballs to the television industry’s most important slot.

The prime-time schedule includes two appearances on Monday night – at home against the Houston Texans on Oct. 20 and on the road against the Tennessee Titans on Nov. 17; two appearances on Sunday night – at Carolina against the Panthers on Sept. 21 and at home against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 2; and then a Thursday night game against the Ravens in Baltimore on Sept. 11.

The Thursday night game in Baltimore will be the first-ever CBS telecast of a package that’s being introduced for the 2014 season.


You can read more here.

You can check out the full 2014 schedule, including the pre-season games, at the bottom of this page!

Hoping everyone had a Happy Easter & a blessed day! — Ben, Ashley, Benjamin Jr. & Baylee

…in New Jersey!

“My department received a grant from your foundation during the last NFL season to purchase a new K9 for our department. I was chosen to be assigned to the K-9 unit and be the dog’s handler. Let me start off by saying that I am extremely grateful and can not describe in words how thankful I am that our department was chosen for this grant.

K9 ‘Ajax’ and I will be completing our first training school (Narcotics Scent Detection) in approximately two weeks. Then in September we will be starting “Patrol School” together. K9 has always been a goal and a dream of mine and because of your foundation I was able to achieve it. Once again, thank you very much for your generosity and for choosing our department.” — Officer John G. Reuter, Fort Lee (NJ) Police Department, in an email to the website on March 27, 2014.

Today, from Noah Cohen, NJ.com – Bergen edition:

A police dog funded through the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation hit the streets after graduating from an 11-week program teaching the German Shepherd to sniff out drugs, officials announced this week.

Police Officer John Reuter’s K-9 partner Ajax became the department’s seventh dog since its K-9 squad was formed in 1990, Chief Keith Bendul said.

The borough’s two K-9 teams will work varying shifts, allowing up to 16 hours of service a day, the chief added. The dogs will be available seven days a week.

The dog teams are a boon to public safety, responding to crimes in progress and missing persons calls, according to Bendul.

The department’s newest K-9 team was made possible through a $6,500 grant from Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, the chief said. Seized assets helped pay for the K-9 patrol car and gear, with no cost to taxpayers.


You can read more here.

You can read more about Ben’s foundation here.


Photo: Members of the Fort Lee Police Department and Borough Council don Steelers caps in honor of Ajax’s graduation from his first training school.


*Again, thank you to the Fort Lee Police Department and Officer Reuter for keeping us up-to-date on K9 Ajax!

Carlee Roethlisberger shared one of her favorites with us from 1991:



She and her big brother were all smiles after discovering what the Easter Bunny had left for them that April morning – a little yellow bunny and candy for her, Chicago Bulls shorts and an official Michael Jordan basketball for 9-year old Ben (how did that fit in his basket?)!

And it won’t be long before Baylee and her big brother, Benjamin Jr. are posing with their Easter basket treasures!


*Thank you Carlee!


You can see more family photos here.

…which means registration for Ben’s Football Camp is heating up!!

Spring is in full swing and summer is just around the corner! You still have time to sign your child up to join Ben for some football fun and instruction at his annual football camp, sponsored by ProCamps Worldwide! But spots are filling up fast!

“I went to Ben’s camp the past three years and both times it was a phenomenal experience! He was so involved and you could tell that he loved every minute of the camp (he even threw a pass to every camper). I wasn’t too interested in the football learning aspect (because I don’t play football) but that part was greatly detailed as well! I learned a lot! I also was fortunate enough to have some of Ben’s teammates coach my groups as well! Overall it was a great experience that I would do again in a heartbeat. Those four days were some of the best days of my life!” – Maddie Mulinaro, the 2012 Day 1 ‘Camper of the Day’ (see photo below), and now a Camp volunteer.

The Camp is open to boys and girls, ages 7-14.

Ben will be joined by a selection of the top prep and college coaches from the area.

Each day, the campers will experience various stations, specializing in fundamental skills of football. Individual groups will be small to assure that each camper gets maximum instruction.

Ben will give daily talks highlighting the finer points of the game of football and beyond. Parents and guests will be able to listen to camp guests in designated areas at each location.

And you never know which of #7’s teammates will show up to help out! Kids that attend Ben’s Camp have had the opportunity to meet and get personal instruction from Brett Keisel, Charlie Batch, as well as the man himself, Coach Tomlin!


You might even get an appearance by Benjamin Jr and his little sister, Baylee this year!


Dates: June 16th & 17th, 2014

Times: 09:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Place: Seneca Valley High School, Harmony, PA

Cost: $199. Use the code BigBen7 for $20 off the registration fee.


*If you use the code BigBen7 when you register, you’ll receive a $20 discount off the registration fee, courtesy of ProCamps!

“I took my two […]

This one was such a big hit that not only has it made an unexpected return, but we’ve also made it into our version of the Friday Happy Dance!

From his original post on February 21st, we bring you the “crazy hair” baby dance to start your weekend off on the right foot:

“It was my first time watching the Grammys and IT WAS FUN!!! I LOVED all the music, and I think I’m totally rockin’ the crazy hair look too (it was after bath time)!” — Jr.



Hoping all in Steeler Nation have a great weekend!