Ben Roethlisberger shoots down retirement talk in wake of elbow injury

Ben Roethlisberger will miss the remainder of the 2019 season because of an elbow injury that will require surgery, and there has been a lot of speculation that the 37-year-old could retire. Roethlisberger has put that talk to rest.

In a statement he released on Monday afternoon, Roethlisberger called his season-ending surgery “shocking and heartbreaking” but said it will not spell the end of his career.

“I can only trust God’s plan, but I am completely determined to battle through this challenge and come back stronger than ever next season,” Roethlisberger said. “The Steelers committed three years to me this offseason and I fully intend to honor my contract and reward them with championship level play. I will do all I can to support Mason (Rudolph) and the team this season to help win games. I love this game, my teammates, the Steelers organization and fans, and I feel in my heart I have a lot left to give.”

Roethlisberger is facing a difficult rehab and will be 38 by the time he is cleared to play again. He has openly contemplated retirement in the past, so it would not have been a surprise if he called it a career after suffering such a significant injury.

With Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell having left Pittsburgh this offseason, the Steelers were trying to find a new identity on offense. They may have to wait another year to do that, especially if Roethlisberger plans to keep playing.

Deion Sanders recently made some predictions about Roethlisberger’s 2019 season, and one of them unfortunately came true. However, Steelers fans will be happy to know Big Ben is not planning to call it quits.