Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger Sr., nicknamed "Big Ben", is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football for the Miami RedHawks, and was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft.
Roethlisberger with the Steelers in 2021
Roethlisberger's college number retired before 2007 Miami game. Also in photo: Bob Hitchens (far left) and John Pont (2nd from the left).
Roethlisberger takes a snap against the Bengals in 2006
Roethlisberger signs autographs at Super Bowl XL media day
The quarterback, colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern American football, the quarterback is usually considered the leader of the offense, and is often responsible for calling the play in the huddle. The quarterback also touches the ball on almost every offensive play, and is almost always the offensive player that throws forward passes. When the QB is tackled behind the line of scrimmage, it is called a sack.
Seven-time Super Bowl winning quarterback Tom Brady attempting a forward pass in a 2009 game against the Washington Redskins.
Navy quarterback Craig Candeto pitches the ball while running an option-based offense
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (No. 12) breaks the Packers' offensive huddle
Pittsburgh Steelers backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski acting as the ball holder for a kick
