While many believe 2021 will be Ben Roethlisberger’s final season, Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II is not so sure.
Speaking with the media Tuesday, Rooney left the door open for Roethlisberger to continue playing beyond this season.
“It’s not written in stone that this is his last year,” Rooney said.
Steelers team president Art Rooney II acknowledged that Ben Roethlisberger could return in 2022.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) August 3, 2021
"It’s not written in stone that this is his last year."
Roethlisberger and the Steelers came to terms on a new contract this past offseason that would allow him to play at least one more year in Pittsburgh at a significantly reduced cap number.
Rooney did add that it very likely could be Roethlisberger’s final go around as well, which would set the Steelers up for significant changes and uncertainty entering 2022.
“We’re aware this could be Ben’s last year,” Rooney said. “We hope it’s a great one. That’s as far as we can go with it right now. Obviously, if this is his last year, then next year we’ll be making decisions on a quarterback, and we’ll address it as the time comes up.”
Fourth-year backup Mason Rudolph is currently the only quarterback on the roster under contract beyond this season.
Roethlisberger had a fine season statistically in 2020, passing for 3,803 yards and 33 touchdowns with ten interceptions, but his play did dip as the team dropped five of six games to close the year.
A two-time Super Bowl winner, Roethlisberger is the franchise’s all-time leader in passing yards (60,349), touchdowns (396), completions (5,050) and wins (156).