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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said Monday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns likely will be his final one at Heinz Field.

“I don’t ever speak in definites or guarantees, that’s just not what I’ve ever done or who I am,” Roethlisberger said Thursday. “But looking at the bigger picture, I would say that all signs are pointing to this could be it. Regular season, that is — I know we still have a chance to potentially get a playoff game there if things fall our way and we take care of business and things have to happen. But in the grand scheme of things, in terms of regular season, signs are pointing that way, this could be it.”



Earlier this week, coach Mike Tomlin said he wasn’t interested in addressing the potential of Monday’s tilt serving as the final home game for Roethlisberger.

“I don’t know that it is going to impact anything relative to what we are intending to do or what he might intend to do,” Tomlin said.

Task At Hand

Roethlisberger admitted he still has a job to do on Monday as the Steelers (7-7-1) battle the Browns (7-8).

“The emotions will start to kick in,” Roethlisberger said. “They already have when you think about it. But I think I’m able to put those emotions on the back burner because of the focus we have to win this game. This is a team that’s hungry. I mean, it’s the Browns, the division opponent, so they’re hungry to come in and get a win, too.

“I can’t sit here all week and just be nostalgic and think about everything that my career has been when I’ve got to focus on this game, because that’s the most important. This is the most important game of the season for us right now.”

Roethlisberger, who will turn 40 in March, moved into fifth place on the NFL’s all-time passing yards list on Dec. 19.

Roethlisberger has played his entire 18-year career in Pittsburgh, and he owns most of the franchise’s passing records, including completions (5,386), yards (63,721) and touchdowns (416).

‘Not Out Of This Thing’

“It’s 18 years, it’s almost half my life I’ve given to this city, this team and the fans,” Roethlisberger said. “The funny thing I know that I still have it in the tank to go out there this week and next week and give it everything I have to do everything I can to get us in into the postseason. That’s always the ultimate goal, to win a Lombardi, and that’s still the goal. We’re not out of this thing yet.”

The six-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion has had one of his least productive seasons as a pro in 2021, throwing for 3,373 yards with 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

–Field Level Media (@FieldLevelMedia)