From Nate Davis at USA Today Sports:

Ben Roethlisberger has never concerned himself with personal accolades. Yet the footprint of his ever-expanding legacy will only take on new dimensions when the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback reports for training camp with his teammates in Latrobe, Pa., this weekend.

And as he assumes the mantle of the longest-serving member of the Steelers roster for the first time in his career, Roethlisberger may also finally be breaking into that elusive club of truly elite NFL quarterbacks.

But Big Ben will tell you none of it is a big deal.

“For me, it’s always about winning. That’s always been my M.O.,” Roethlisberger, 33, told USA TODAY Sports. “People ask me all the time about what do I think about not being one of the five elites or the three elites or whatever it is.

“I don’t really care. As long as I can win football games and win championships, that’s all that really matters to me. At the end of the day, to me, that’s what you’re based on.”

He certainly has a solid base. February will mark the 10-year anniversary of the Steelers’ Super Bowl XL victory when Roethlisberger, then 23, became the youngest starting quarterback to win the Lombardi Trophy. Three years later, he added a second ring and narrowly missed a third when the team fell short against the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV.

Roethlisberger also may have sparked a seismic shift in the way NFL teams treat young quarterbacks.

After being thrust into the lineup early in his rookie year for injured starter Tommy Maddox, Roethlisberger proceeded to go 13-0 in the 2004 regular season, won his first playoff start and took the Steelers all the way to the AFC Championship Game a year after they’d gone 6-10 with most of the same key personnel.

He became the first quarterback to earn AP offensive rookie of the year honors.

“He ultimately changed the thought process as far as how you evaluate quarterbacks,” said Charlie Batch, Roethlisberger’s (now retired) longtime backup.

“Before, it used to be throw them into the fire, see what happens and hopefully you win some games. And then he comes out the gate undefeated. So when people now figure out what that bar is, they always look at him and say, ‘Well if Ben can do […]

…great friends, and an amazing time!


Just want to say thank you to everyone who came to Ashley’s surprise 30th birthday party at the lake. You all are amazing and made her birthday so special. We love you all!

Special shout out to Noah and his fiancé Jamie for being there! And to Tyrone Wells and his wife Erin for their friendship and their amazing voices at the party! — Ben



You can see a larger version of the photo here.

Family time was front & center:


Mom & Dad took Benjamin Jr. to see Sesame Street Live, and Baylee celebrated her first birthday in late Winter. Then in the Spring the Roethlisberger family was in attendance for Ben’s MAC Hall of Fame Induction. In early May it was all about having fun at the beach!

But the fun didn’t stop: There was hanging out with dad at the Ben Roethlisberger Football Camp, at the barber, at his Foundation Golf Invitational…and being silly on Fathers Day!

Ben and Ashley rounded out their time together before training camp by inviting friends Noah Galloway and his fiance Jamie Boyd to celebrate Ashley’s birthday in July at Reynolds Plantation.



Then it was events, tournaments, camps, inductions, an autograph signing…and an important contract signing:


Let’s see, there was snowmobiling with Jim Kelly in upstate New York, and playing in the Phoenix Open as well as attending the Dapper Dan Awards for Jim Kelly & Antonio Brown in late winter. Oh, and all that running around and throwing passes at Garth Brooks’ Football Camp!

Ben agreed to terms on a new contract in March to stay with the Steelers through the 2019 NFL season.

There was that hunting trip to Tennesee with Jim Kelly, and the official opening of Ben Roethlisberger Field in April.

Ben was the center of attention at his MAC Hall of Fame Induction ceremony in May. He also took his teammates to California to workout with Coach Brian Schottenheimer.

June was a crazy month: Ben played in both Coach Arians’ and Mario Lemieux‘s charity golf tournaments in June, after hosting his own at Treesdale Golf & Country Club. The night before, Ben hosted friends, fans and foundation supporters at his Triple 7’s casino night charity event!

Earlier in the month, Ben hosted over 400 children at his football camp, and everyone had a blast!

And then there was that autograph signing in Northern Virginia that looked more like Western Pennsylvania with all the Black & Gold being worn!

Whew!!! And that didn’t even cover half of it!



But now it’s time to get back to the business […]