Ben Roethlisberger reportedly gives specific timeline on retirement
On a day that his team shook up its coaching staff, word leaked out that Ben Roethlisberger is coming back, and hopefully, he’s hungry.
When the Steelers were eliminated from the NFL Playoffs last season in New England, Roethlisberger said he would need some time to decide whether to return.
“I’m gonna take this offseason to evaluate, to consider all options, to consider health and family and things like that and just kind of take some time away to evaluate next season — if there’s gonna be a next season,” Roethlisberger said last January on KDKA-FM in Pittsburgh.
There was no such drama after this year’s playoff exit against Jacksonville, as the future hall of famer announced immediately after the game that he’ll be back for another season.
But the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette reported Wednesday that Roethlisberger has told teammates he’s actually going to play another three years.
Perhaps one of the reasons for Roethlisberger’s willingness to commit so far down the road was the team’s decision on Wednesday not to renew the contract of offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
Despite a 13-4 season, it was clear at times that Roethlisberger and Haley didn’t see eye-to-eye, the lowlight coming in the team’s first matchup with Jacksonville, when the quarterback threw a career-worst five interceptions.
He bounced back Sunday with more than 500 yards and five touchdowns in the rematch, but also had an interception and a fumble, giving him seven turnovers in two meetings against the vaunted Jacksonville defense.
Several reports late Wednesday indicated that quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner will replace Haley, with a deal expected to be finalized Thursday.
Big Ben lobbying hard for Fichtner as new Steelers OC. That's going to happen
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 17, 2018
Fichtner is said to have a very close relationship with both Roethlisberger and offensive line coach Mike Munchak, who has turned down a second interview to become head coach of the Arizona Cardinals.
In fact, at one point this season, Roethlisberger asked Steelers’ coach Mike Tomlin to let Fichtner be a go-between as his relationship with Haley was fraying.
“Sources said Roethlisberger approached head coach Mike Tomlin about a month ago and requested to have a buffer between him and Haley on the sidelines, another set of eyes and a sounding board he could turn to,” CBS Sports’ Jason LaCanfora wrote. “Specifically, he asked that quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner, who he is close with, no longer stay in the coaching booth in the press box during games but instead join other offensive coaches down to the sidelines.”
Roethlisberger turns 36 in March and is coming off a very good season, with 27 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
The two-time Super Bowl champion, however, hasn’t been back to the big game since 2010.
You can bet he wants at least one more crack at another Super Bowl title.
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