When Did Ben Roethlisberger Join the NFL?
Contents
Ben Roethlisberger joined the NFL in 2004, when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has since become one of the most successful quarterbacks in the league, winning two Super Bowls.
Ben Roethlisberger’s Early Life
Born in Lima, Ohio, Ben Roethlisberger was the only child of Ken and Brenda Roethlisberger. His father originally wanted him to play basketball, but at 6’5″, Roethlisberger was taller than most of the other kids and was better suited for football. He played quarterback for his high school team and was named Ohio’s “Mr. Football” twice.
His Family
Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger Sr. (/ˈrɒθlᵻsbɜːrɡər/ Roth-liss-bur-gər; born March 2, 1982), nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami University, and was drafted by the Steelers in the first round (11th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft.
A six-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Super Bowl champion, Roethlisberger is one of six quarterbacks in NFL history to have multiple Super Bowl wins and thrown for over 300 touchdown passes. He owns several NFL records including most consecutive seasons with 4,000 or more passing yards (9; currently active), most consecutive seasons with 25 plus passing touchdowns (9; currently active), most consecutive games with a touchdown pass (37), which is also an NFL record for quarterbacks under 34 years of age,[5][6] and is currently third in career wins by a quarterback behind only Tom Brady and Drew Brees.
His High School Career
Roethlisberger attended Findlay High School in Findlay, Ohio, where he played quarterback for the Trojans. As a senior, he completed 265 of 413 passes (64.2 percent) for 5,065 yards and 46 touchdowns with only six interceptions. Findlay went 15-0 in 1998 and won the state title. He was a finalist for Ohio’s “Mr. Football” award, which is given to the state’s best high school football player, and he was also named Gatorade’s national player of the year.
His College Career
Ben Roethlisberger joined the NFL in 2004 after being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Prior to that, he had a successful college career with the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks. He is one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history and has won two Super Bowls with the Steelers.
Miami University
Ben Roethlisberger was drafted 11th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft. He played college football at Miami University, and was considered one of the top quarterbacks in his class.
His NFL Draft
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Ben Roethlisberger with the 11th pick in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and he became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to start a game at age 21. As a rookie, he set an NFL record for most passing yards in a game by a rookie (486), and was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
His NFL Career
Ben Roethlisberger was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Miami University. He quickly became the Steelers’ starting quarterback and helped lead the team to a 15-1 record in his rookie season.
His Rookie Year
Ben Roethlisberger was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl that year, when the Steelers defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. After winning a second Super Bowl in 2008, Roethlisberger was ranking among the best quarterbacks in the NFL. However, he has struggled with injuries and inconsistency in recent years, and his play has been a big part of why the Steelers have missed the playoffs in three of the last four seasons.
His Second Season
After a stellar rookie season, Big Ben was even better in his second year in the NFL. He led the Steelers to a 15-1 record, throwing for over 3,200 yards and 34 touchdowns. He also ran for another 133 yards and seven touchdowns. In the playoffs, Roethlisberger continued his strong play, leading the Steelers to a win in the AFC Championship game against the Denver Broncos.
His Third Season
After being drafted in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, Ben Roethlisberger’s professional career began with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He started all 16 regular season games during his rookie year and helped lead the team to a 15-1 record and the AFC Championship. His stellar play continued into his second season, as he led the Steelers to a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.
In his third season, Big Ben experienced his first taste of adversity when he was sidelined for parts of the year with a knee injury. Despite missing several games, he still managed to throw for over 3,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. The following year, he helped lead the Steelers to another Super Bowl appearance, this time losing to the Packers in a close game.
Over the next few seasons, Roethlisberger continued to be one of the league’s top quarterbacks, making multiple Pro Bowl appearances and leading the Steelers to several playoff berths. In 2014, he missed most of the season due to injury but bounced back in 2015 with another strong campaign. He currently remains one of Pittsburgh’s key players as they continue their quest for another championship.
His Later Career
Ben Roethlisberger was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Miami University.
His Fourth Season
In his fourth season, Ben Roethlisberger helped the Steelers to a then-franchise-record 15–1 regular season record. He completed 324 of 500 passes for 4,328 yards and 34 touchdowns, with only nine interceptions; he also ran for two touchdowns. For his performance that year, he was named to his second Pro Bowl. The Steelers lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts in the divisional playoffs by a score of 21–18.
His Fifth Season
After his strong rookie performance, Roethlisberger’s second season was even better. He helped the Steelers to a 15-1 regular season record, and a trip to the AFC Championship game, where they lost 21-18 to the New England Patriots. His passer rating for the season was 104.1 and he set the NFL record for fewest interceptions in a 16-game season, with only 5. He also rushed for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns.
His Sixth Season
In his sixth season, Big Ben brought his team to a win in Super Bowl XLIII, the Steelers’ sixth Lombardi Trophy. He was named the game’s MVP after becoming the first quarterback ever to throw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns in a Super Bowl, finishing with a career-high passing rating of main passing touchdown goes to Santonio Holmes.
