The No. 11 overall pick of the legendary 2004 draft out of small-school Miami of Ohio, Roethlisberger wasn't a "can't miss" prospect, but the Steelers won 14 straight games his rookie year to finish 15-1 and reach the AFC Championship Game. They lost to the Patriots but finished the job the following year, defeating the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. They would go on to reach two more championship games with Roethlisberger under center, hoisting one more Lombardi. Roethlisberger never won MVP or received first-team All-Pro honors — that will happen when your career overlaps with Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers — but he retires as a sure-fire Hall-of-Famer who is currently fifth all time in career passing at 64,088. That is the highest total for any player whose entire career came with one team. Ben also had a top-five single-game effort with 522 yards in 2014, and top-10 single season effort in 2018. Although Roethlisberger was never the same after a major 2019 elbow injury, he still finished his career with a playoff start at age 39. The Steelers' post-Roethlisberger plans are unclear, though it is impossible to believe they will involve Mason Rudolph as anything other than a strict bridge option. 

It's a safe assumption after Roethlisberger, 40 in March, appeared to have nothing in the proverbial tank by season's end. Mason Rudolph, signed through the 2022 season, would be next in line to start for Pittsburgh unless they make a move in free agency or the NFL Draft. ESPN's Brooke Pryor reports Tomlin "hasn't expressed that he wants an everyday starter QB" to replace Roethlisberger next season. Tomlin implied that offensive coordinator Matt Canada had to "hold back" some of the offense thanks to personnel shortcomings, Pryor said. Tomlin could be referring to Roethlisberger's total inability to push the ball downfield. He said during his Tuesday presser that "quarterback mobility is valued" -- a potential tipoff as to who the team might pursue in the coming months. The team's quarterback situation will be the subject of much reporting this offseason. 

Although Roethlisberger did not make any definitive statements about retiring, he’ll presumably hang up his cleats fifth on the NFL’s all-time passing yardage list (63,721) and fourth in NFL postseason history (5,776). He also ranks eighth all-time in passing touchdowns (416) and third in fourth-quarter comebacks (40), joining Peyton Manning and Tom Brady as the only quarterbacks in league history to have thrown for 50,000 yards with at least two Super Bowl wins. Roethlisberger’s twilight years were not easy on the eyes but he’ll be remembered for his 50 franchise records under center well before anyone recalls his career in the 21st century. Even though Roethlisberger never picked up a First Team All-Pro honor or any major awards throughout his 18-year career, he will undoubtedly have a bust in Canton in five years' time.

Roethlisberger gutted his way to a win, possibly extending his Steelers career by at least one more game. Checking down time and again to Najee Harris, Diontae Johnson, and his tight ends, Roethlisberger did just enough to beat the shorthanded Ravens in an ugly game. He connected on two critical overtime passes to keep Pittsburgh moving downfield. The Ravens, meanwhile, dropped at least two would-be picks in the second half. Roethlisberger, who has been held to less than five yards per pass attempt in three straight contests, heads into the postseason hoping for a miraculous run with a Steelers team that just won't go away.