From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette this afternoon:

These are good days to be Ben Roethlisberger.

He has virtually everyone back from one of the most productive and talented offenses in the NFL. He has the new offensive coordinator he wanted. He says he’s as healthy as he’s been in his 15 seasons with the Steelers, his weight an eight-year low.

He guided the Steelers to the third most victories in franchise history. And he’s coming off one of the best playoff performances ever by a quarterback, certainly the most productive in Steelers history.

Yet, something is missing, and Roethlisberger will tell you what that is: a Super Bowl victory. There has not been one for the Steelers going on a decade, not an appearance in one going on eight years.

He set franchise playoff records with 469 passing yards against Jacksonville (second most in NFL postseason history), with five touchdown passes, and with 37 completions in 58 attempts.

But it wasn’t enough as his team lost 45-42 at home after a bye week and one step short of a second consecutive AFC title game in New England.

Before he walked onto the field for his first training camp practice of his 15th season, Roethlisberger reflected on that loss, the defense that did not get it done that day, his next contract, the departure of Todd Haley and what the absence of Le’Veon Bell might mean for him and the Steelers:

• On the playoff loss.

“For someone like me who has played this long, it doesn’t matter how well you play, it’s the win and loss. I’ve long said I could have the best game of my life and lose and it doesn’t mean anything. Winning and losing is all that matters to me.”


• On his next contract.

Typically, the Steelers have negotiated an extension when he had two years left. He has told them he’d like to play another three to five years. But with two years left on his deal, there is no indication they will negotiate an extension this year.

“It hasn’t even been a thought. If they’ve talked to … my representatives, I don’t know about it. I’ve got this year and next year. So I’m not worried about it. I’ve played long enough that I don’t need to sit here and worry about the next […]

And many thanks to several fans who alerted us:

The below account is NOT Ben’s Instagram account (he doesn’t have one). It’s NOT his official website’s Instagram account. The email listed is NOT affiliated in any way with Ben, his “management team” nor his website.


We have reported this fake account (ben.roethlisberger.official) & contacted Instagram (twice within the past two weeks), but they have yet to remove it so we wanted to let everyone know, especially since this person is now selling fake autographed items & promising phone calls from “Ben”. NFL Security has also been notified.

The 2018 grant cycle of the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund is still open…

But not for long!

The Foundation will be distributing grants in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers during the 2018 NFL season including Cleveland, Tampa Bay, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Jacksonville, Denver, Oakland and New Orleans. Ben invites police and fire departments in these eight communities to submit proposals detailing their needs.

In addition, his Foundation will continue to make grants to several police and fire department K-9 units in the Pittsburgh area following Super Bowl LIII.

Ben’s mission is to support K-9 units of police and fire departments throughout the United States with a particular emphasis on support for service dogs in Pittsburgh. Ben also strives to support Make-A-Wish and other nonprofit organizations assisting children in need in cities where he has lived and played football.

The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation distributed more than $170,000 in grants to K-9 units around the country during the 2017 NFL season, including $82,000 in the Pittsburgh community. The Foundation has distributed in excess of $1.92 million since 2007.

This marks the 12th season of grants for his Foundation.The majority of grants distributed will help police & fire department K-9 units purchase dogs & dog safety vests, but other needs are also considered.

Applications and supporting documents must be mailed and postmarked by AUGUST 15TH. Click HERE for all the details on how to apply!


For more information about the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation or The Giving Back Fund, please contact Jessica Duffaut at jduffaut@givingback.org.

From Jeremy Fowler, ESPN.com:

After hosting his pro football camp in mid-June, Ben Roethlisberger was off into the quiet summer, which he says is an inexact process as it relates to preparation for Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.

His 15th camp approaches, leaving Roethlisberger searching for a balance between rest and readiness.

“It’s a fine line I walk at this age, of resting and getting my body enough rest for the season and working out to prepare,” said Roethlisberger, 36, before retreating for some down time like the rest of his teammates. “My trainer will get me as prepared as I can be. But it is a fine line of what you can do at this age.”

How does he navigate that line? He pays trainers to define it, he says.

“You’ve got to listen to your body. Any aches and pains you might have, your arm being sore if you’re throwing too much, just things like that.”

Roethlisberger has hosted team workouts at his summer home in Georgia in past years and could do so again.

Once camp begins, the Steelers are intentional with Roethlisberger’s usage, giving him days off as a way to keep a prized investment fresh for 17 weeks. They probably will do the same starting in late July at St. Vincent College, especially with backups Landry Jones, Josh Dobbs and Mason Rudolph needing reps.

Some days, Roethlisberger will spend the latter portions of practices with ice on his shoulder or knees as veteran maintenance.

In perhaps a shrinking championship window with the Steelers’ core offensive players intact, Roethlisberger eyes a third Super Bowl and enters a de facto contract year that he’s not fretting.

But Roethlisberger will focus on fatherhood before the third-down conversions. At his camp, the QB threw a pass to Ben, one of his three children. Roethlisberger said he wants to be as good a father as his own, Ken.

“This is my job on Sundays — the rest of the week and the rest of the year [fatherhood] is something I do and I enjoy doing,” Roethlisberger said. “I want my kids and these other kids to know the joy that it brings to me.”


You can read more from Mr. Fowler here.


Also this weekend: Ben the MIGHTY OAK!