Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., December 21, 2020. /CFP
The NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers want their longtime quarterback Ben Roethlisberger back, just like the 38-year-old wants to return to Heinz Field. Steelers team president Art Rooney II said they want Big Ben back in a statement on Wednesday.
"Ben Roethlisberger and I met yesterday morning and we had a productive meeting. We were able to discuss a lot of things that relate to where we are and where we want to go. Ben assured me that he is committed to coming back to help us win, and I told Ben that we would like to have him back to help us win a championship. We both understand that the next step is to work out Ben's contract situation," said Rooney II.
Roethlisberger still has one year left of his current contract with the Steelers and it includes $41.25 million cap hit. His agent Ryan Tollner said in a statement to NFL Network that they are "happy to creatively adjust his contract to help them build the best team possible."
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers tries to pass the ball in the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S., December 27, 2020. /CFP
The cap hit can be brought down by at most $14 million via contract restructure and extension. If Roethlisberger agrees take a pay cut to the veterans minimum, his cap hit will be a bit more than $23 million.
Kevin Colbert, general manager of the Steelers, said last week "hopefully, there is a way we could try and figure out and do what's best for the organization and do what's best for Ben." That did not sound as committed as the statement of Rooney II who though also admitted that they must find a solution to Roethlisberger's contract situation.
Roethlisberger has been with the Steelers since the team selected him with the No. 11 pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. During that period, he was a six-time Pro-Bowler, two-time passing yards leader and won two Super Bowl titles with the Steelers in 2006 and 2009.