Ben Roethlisberger releases message following emotional Monday night win

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could be just days away from playing his last game in the black and yellow. The NFL veteran posted a message to his fans after seeing an outpour of support after winning what may have been his final game at Heinz Field on Monday night.

“My family and I are overwhelmed with the love and support we have received around last night’s game,” Roethlisberger said, via his website Twitter account. We are truly grateful for every one of you.”

Roethlisberger and the Steelers took down Cleveland with a 26-14 victory on Monday night to move to 8-7-1 on the year. During his long career in Pittsburgh, Big Ben went 92-32 at home. It’s the fourth-most home wins with any team in NFL history.

A message from Ben this evening:

“My family and I are overwhelmed with the love and support we have received around last night’s game. We are truly grateful for every one of you.”#Steelers#SteelersNation

— BigBen7.com (@_BigBen7) January 4, 2022

If Roethlisberger does retire at the end of the 2021 regular season, fans will remember him as a two-time Super Bowl champion and six-time Pro Bowler. He has amassed 8,399 passing yards, 417 touchdowns and an overall career completion percentage of 64.6%.

The Miami (Ohio) alum also said a heartfelt thank you to the fans and Pittsburgh on Monday night.

“This is home,” Roethlisberger said. “I was born in Ohio but I live here and I’ll always be here. These fans, and this place, mean so much to me and my family and always will. I’ve always said that they’re the best fans in all of sports, and I’ll stick by that until the day I die. To see all the signs and the jerseys and the towels and to hear them cheer for me coming out of the towel, I don’t know that I’ll ever put it into words.”

Big Ben gets emotional

Roethlisberger previously said the game “could be” his last home game. It sure had that feeling, with “Thanks Ben” signs around the stadium during the Steelers’ 26-14 win over the Browns.

But after Najee Harris broke off a late touchdown run, Roethlisberger got to do something he didn’t think he’d get to do. He got the Steelers into the victory formation. That’s when it all started to hit him.

“I didn’t think I was going to take the field again,” Roethlisberger said during his postgame interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salters. “It’s the best play in football when you’re an offensive player: to take a knee. I’m glad I got to do it one last time.”