12/15/25 07:48:00
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12/15 19:47 CST Ben Roethlisberger says Mike Tomlin has earned the right to
leave Steelers on his own terms
Ben Roethlisberger says Mike Tomlin has earned the right to leave Steelers on
his own terms
By WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) --- Ben Roethlisberger thinks Mike Tomlin should coach the
Pittsburgh Steelers until he doesn't want to do it anymore.
The former Steelers quarterback said Monday night ahead of his induction into
the team's Hall of Honor that Tomlin, the NFL's longest-tenured coach, has
earned the right to leave on his own terms.
Roethlisberger raised eyebrows two weeks ago when he suggested on his podcast
following Pittsburgh's home loss to Buffalo that it might be time in the
offseason for the Steelers to "find that next guy."
Tomlin is in his 19th season in Pittsburgh, and his resume includes a pair of
appearances in the Super Bowl, including a victory over Arizona with
Roethlisberger at quarterback after the 2008 season.
While the Steelers have been playoff regulars, they also haven't won a
postseason game since the divisional round in 2016, the franchise's longest
stretch without a playoff victory since Franco Harris' Immaculate Reception
more than five decades ago.
Roethlisberger, the franchise leader in every major passing category and a
two-time Super Bowl champion, walked his comments back a bit before being
inducted into the Hall of Honor with former center Maurkice Pouncey and
linebacker Joey Porter Sr.
"Just because I said that, you know, there's time for like maybe some new
things that's just saying that I think, you know, coach Tomlin, if he wants to
move on, he has every right to want to move," Roethlisberger said. "It's not
(that) they should. It's up to him."
Roethlisberger, who stressed he makes it a point to criticize plays but not
players on his podcast, has no issue if Tomlin stays on indefinitely.
"We should honor him when that time comes, whenever that is," Roethlisberger
said. "Maybe he wants to coach for another 10 years. That's fine, too."
The 43-year-old Roethlisberger, who retired following the 2021 season and will
be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time next year,
added he has no plans to pull a Philip Rivers and run back onto the field in
his mid-40s.
"If I had a little work, I could (do it)," he said. "Listen, my right arm works
just fine, I promise you that. It's the rest of my body I worry about."
___
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