Ben Roethlisberger to become the all-time Steeler on Sunday

Chris Adamski
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 5:00 p.m. | Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 5:00 p.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger gets off a pass while under pressure during Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. It was the 220th game of Roethlisberger’s career — all for the Steelers — tying Mike Webster for the most for the franchise.

Ben Roethlisberger’s trot onto the field for the first offensive snap of Sunday’s game at Heinz Field will be a historic one.

At that point, he officially will become the all-time Pittsburgh Steeler.

The game against the Houston Texans will be the 221st of Roethlisberger’s career, breaking a tie with former center Mike Webster for most games played for the Steelers.

The Steelers’ first-round pick in 2004, Roethlisberger is already two seasons clear of Webster for the team record for most seasons played (17). Roethlisberger previously passed Terry Bradshaw for most games (Bradshaw had 168) and seasons (Bradshaw had 14) for the Steelers as a quarterback.

“I attribute it to Jesus and just really being blessed,” Roethlisberger said of his longevity. “I am so thankful to be in the black and gold 17 years later. Almost half my life, I’ve been here giving Steelers fans everything I have. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I wouldn’t want to do it for any other team or any other fans.”

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Roethlisberger has started 218 of the 220 games he has played. He passed Hines Ward for No. 2 in games during Week 2 of last season, but he left that game and underwent season-ending elbow surgery days later.

Among active players who have appeared in a game this season, Roethlisberger ranks 14th in games played and sixth in starts, according to www.pro-football-reference.com. New teammate Dustin Colquitt (240 games) is eighth in games played among active players (all but the most recent two were for the Kansas City Chiefs).

The only active players who have appeared in more games for only one team are Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald (252 games), Detroit Lions long snapper Don Muhlbach (246) and Dallas Cowboys long snapper L.P. Ladouceur (239).

Dan Marino (240 for the Miami Dolphins), Eli Manning (234 for the New York Giants) and John Elway (231 for the Denver Broncos) are the only quarterbacks in NFL history who played for only one franchise and played more games than Roethlisberger has for the Steelers. If Roethlisberger appears in all 16 Steelers games this season, he will tie Manning in that category.

“I’ve been blessed to be around a lot of great football players and talent and teammates,” Roethlisberger said. “I did take a lot of beating early on (in his career). A lot of that was my fault. God made me a bigger man than most quarterbacks, so I think I can take it and I’m just enjoying playing this game.”

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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.