Ben Roethlisberger: The Pride Of Pittsburgh
Born on March 2nd, 1982 in Lima, Ohio, Ben Roethlisberger is one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL. But to those who knew him in high school and college, that comes as no surprise. As the captain of the Findlay Trojans’ football, basketball, and baseball teams, Roethlisberger was already a star athlete in high school. During his senior year, he became the team’s quarterback and set numerous state records. That year alone, he threw for 4,041 yards, passed for 54 touchdowns, and ran for seven touchdowns.
After high school, Roethlisberger went on to play football at Miami University in Ohio, where he continued to set school and conference records as the team’s starting quarterback for three years. This led to him becoming a first-round pick in the 2004 NFL draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers selected him as the 11th overall pick, and the Steel City would become his home for the next 17 years. During his first season, he won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
As the Steelers’ quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger led the team to two Super Bowl victories in 2006 and 2009. He led the league in passing yards in 2014 and 2018 and earned a spot in six Pro Bowls. Upon his retirement in 2021, he was one of the top 10 passers to ever play the game, racking up 64,088 yards and 418 touchdowns.
Ben Roethlisberger is just as popular off the field as he is on the field. Several restaurants in Pennsylvania and Ohio have named sandwiches after the NFL legend. He has his own brand of barbecue sauce, and he has invested in several other companies, but it’s his philanthropy work that shows off Roethlisberger’s true personality. Along with his wife, Ashley, the former quarterback runs his own foundation, which supports several causes, like police and fire departments, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and the Light of Life Rescue Mission. One particular cause that Roethlisberger is passionate about is helping smaller local police departments afford their own K-9 units.
Roethlisberger cites his Christian faith as his inspiration behind his philanthropic work. He’s also inspired by his three children, Ben Jr., Baylee, and Bodie. One of his more recent projects was investing in NeoLight, an organization that provides free technology to hospitals that serve babies with jaundice. Refer to this article to learn more.
Learn more about Ben Roethlisberger on https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RoetBe00.htm