The Pittsburgh Steelers struck gold when they selected quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with the 11th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. Roethlisberger wasted no time making an impact, going 13-0 as a starter in his rookie season and leading the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game, where they fell to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
Despite throwing for 226 yards and two touchdowns on 14-of-24 passing in that game, Roethlisberger also tossed three costly interceptions, including an 87-yard pick-six by Rodney Harrison. However, he quickly rebounded the following season, guiding the Steelers to a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.
With such early success, many believed Roethlisberger would have the Steelers in Super Bowl contention every season. For years, that expectation remained true. But during a recent episode of his Footbahlin podcast, Roethlisberger reflected on how that early success may have actually been a negative for him as a young quarterback. He admitted that it left him feeling a bit spoiled early in his NFL career. Roethlisberger recalled a powerful message from Chad Scott, a veteran defensive back who played for the Steelers from 1997 to 2004.
"Yeah I mean I remember my first year because we were going to the AFC championship game," Roethlisberger said. "I think it was Chad Scott who stood up in front of the team and said, 'Hey you all have to appreciate and understand what this means. I have been in the league for years and you don’t know if you will have this moment again.' I remember at the time and the next year he said that and I was all dialed in, and focused on it, and then we lost."
Scott emphasized how long he had been in the NFL and how rare opportunities like their playoff run truly were.
Unfortunately for Scott, the Steelers fell short in 2004, and he was released the following year—never getting the chance to experience the 2005 Super Bowl win.
"The next year, it’s like, ok we are going to the Super Bowl again and it was like, I thought this would never happen again," Roethlisberger said. "Then you win it."
Roethlisberger, on the other hand, was far more fortunate, capturing a Super Bowl the very next season. Looking back, he admitted that Scott’s words stuck with him, though at the time, he didn’t fully grasp their weight. With so much early success, he realized he had been somewhat spoiled by how quickly everything fell into place.
Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger Details His Biggest Regret Of His NFL Career
He went on to explain that one of his biggest regrets was having most of his postseason success early in his career. He felt disappointed that his kids and family didn’t get to experience more special moments and memories later on. Steelers fans can certainly relate, as many had hoped for more deep playoff runs toward the end of Roethlisberger’s career.
Of course, he added another Super Bowl victory just a few seasons later in 2008, securing two championships in his career. While he, like Steelers fans, wishes he could have won more, his perspective is unique—one that many don’t consider in the moment.
When a quarterback finds early success, as we’ve seen with Patrick Mahomes and now Jalen Hurts, it can create its own set of challenges. Roethlisberger detailed how that early success, while a blessing, also came with downsides. It’s an interesting reflection from him at this stage in his life.
