Ben Roethlisberger is a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Since his NFL draft in 2004, Roethlisberger has proven himself in many ways, making his presence felt on various teams he has played on.
He has also earned a lot of recognition and awards in his playing career. These include the prestigious AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award for 2004, which was presented the same year it was drafted. There is so much more to know about the NFL player besides his professional career. Here are lesser-known facts about Ben Roethlisberger.
Ben Roethlisberger bio, dude
He was born on March 2, 1982 to his parents. IdaJane (née Foust), his mother, and Kenneth Todd “Ken” Roethlisberger, his father in Lima, Ohio. Ben started to show an inclination towards football from a young age. However, it’s important to note that Roethlisberger was a four-sport star at Findlay High School, where he attended. He was the captain of his school’s basketball, soccer, and baseball teams.
Gradually, he leaned towards football and played as a wide receiver for the team. After a successful high school career, Ben transferred to Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 2000 and joined the Miami Red Hawks football team. However, he was switched to a new jersey in his freshman season, but made his debut in 2001 with two touchdowns in the game against Michigan. At the end of his freshman season, he recorded 43,105 passes, 241 completions and 25 touchdowns.
His second season was even better, with Ben recording an impressive 3,238 passes and 271 completions by the end of that season and also being named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week. His junior season began with the RedHawks’ 49-28 win over Louisville in the 2003 GMAC Bowl and the team’s best performance of being ranked 10th in the Associated Press poll. By the end of his 2003 junior season, he had recorded 343 completions, 4,486 passes and 37 touchdowns. He was also named MAC Offensive Player of the Year.
Per career stats
With an impressive record from his junior season, Ben Roethlisberger was predicted to be drafted fairly early. The predictions actually came true when the talented player was selected in the 2004 NFL draft alongside Philip Rivers, Eli Manning and JP Losman. It was a first-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the 2004 NFL Draft. After the draft, he signed a six-year, $22.26 million contract with the team.
Ben Roethlisberger had one of his greatest games in his first season with the Steelers in October 2004, leading the team to a 34-20 win over the then-undefeated New England Patriots. During the 2006 season, Ben was injured in a motorcycle accident which caused him to miss that season’s opening game. Although his performance was initially hampered, he ended the season on a good record.
Ben finished the 2008 season with 21 yards from 30,256, one interception and one touchdown, and in 2010 he made his third Super Bowl appearance. He finished Super Bowl XLV with 25/40 for 263 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Roethlisberger was with the Steelers for over 12 years and was not traded to another team. His 2017 feat included an impressive record as the 8th quarterback to pass 50,000 career stretches.
Wealth (income and earnings)
Ben Roethlisberger has been in the NFL since 2004, amassed so much wealth from his time with the Steelers. The talented NFL player is sitting on an estimated net worth of $70 million. Ben’s career earnings over the years totals over $187 million, which ranks him 9th among active NFL players.
In 2017 alone, the Steelers quarterback earned $18.2 million, ranking 11th in the NFL. Roethlisberger is one of the highest paid players in the Pittsburgh Steelers with a cap hit of $23.2 million.
Personal life – wife, children
He seems so involved in his career, but Ben like his peers also has a love life. He is married to his wife, Ashley Harlan, a Pennsylvania medical assistant. The couple tied the knot in July 2011 in the presence of family and friends.
Together they have three children; Benjamin ToddRoethlisberger Jr, their first son who was born in 2012, Baylee Roethlisberger, their daughter who was born in 2014 and their second son, Bodie Hunter who was born in 2016.
Other Facts You Should Know Ben Roethlisberger
- Ben Roethlisberger is of American nationality but of Swiss descent. Its origin goes back to Geissbuhi in the Swiss municipality of Lauperswil.
- His Swiss connections made him the spokesperson for the Swiss Roots campaign, designed to help Americans of Swiss descent trace their ancestral heritage.
- Ben has an eye for business despite seeming so busy with his football career. The NFL player owns his own line of barbecue sauces called Big Ben’s BBQ.
- During the 2010 season, Roethlisberger was suspended from the NFL for four games without pay after allegedly violating the NFL’s code of conduct. This comes in the wake of a sexual assault charge against the NFL player.