Ben Roethlisberger, former Quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has had quite an illustrious career. His path begins in Lima, Ohio, where he was born on March 2, 1982. Ben Roethlisberger was a versatile athlete in high school, serving as captain of the football, baseball, and basketball teams. He attended Findlay High, where his record-breaking talent was well noted. Before starting college, he led Findlay to a 23-9 record. He set state records with 4,041 yards thrown and 54 touchdowns. He, himself, ran for seven touchdowns.
Considering his astonishing beginnings, it is no surprise that Ben Roethlisberger took Miami of Ohio’s Red Hawks by storm. He was the starting QB for three years, from 2001 to 2003. Ben Roethlisberger was only the tenth quarterback in their conference history to throw for more than 10,000 yards in his career. His talent speaks for itself, having set every school record for passing, which he achieved in only 38 games. This college superstar threw 854 completed passes for 10,829 yards and 84 touchdowns. His 11,075 total offensive yards were, you guessed it, another record-breaker, dubbing him only the third player in the Mid-American Conference to throw over 3,000 yards in just three seasons.
Ben Roethlisberger’s talent and skill landed him an 11th overall, first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004. His list of accomplishments is effectively endless. Let’s look at Roethlisberger’s phenomenal attainments as a Pittsburgh Steeler:
- Won 74 of 100 first-game starts (fourth most in NFL history)
- PFWA (Pro-Football Writers of America) Rookie Team in 2004
- 2004 Associated Press NFL Rookie of the Year
- Threw 500-yard games four times (Drew Brees and Tom Brady each twice)
- Achieved nine post-season berths with the Steelers
- He won Seven AFC North Championships
- Four AFC Championships
- Two Superbowl wins
- Youngest QB to win the Superbowl
- Two-time NFL passing leader
- Six pro-bowls
“Big Ben” has had a jaw-dropping career since his time at Findlay High, but you may not be familiar with his philanthropic journey. Ben and his family are Christian and family-oriented folks who invite everyone to appreciate the strength of a family bond, which is the primary focus of the Roethlisberger Family Foundation.
Ben has also founded the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation, which assists police and fire department K-9 units to purchase dogs and K-9 safety gear. Since 2007, the foundation has raised and distributed over $1.5 million.
Fun fact: At 6’5″ tall and 240 pounds, defenders had difficulty bringing down this gentle giant. Hence, he was deemed “Big Ben.” Refer to this article for additional information.
Additional information about Roethlisberger on https://www.theneolight.com/team/ben-roethlisberger