Le'Veon Bell pays tribute to Ben Roethlisberger ahead of potential retirement

Current and former teammates have been posting messages in honor of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, signaling his impending retirement after 18 years in Pittsburgh.

Le’Veon Bell, Roethlisberger’s leading running back from 2013-17, posted congratulations, as well as thanks, to the NFL vet on Tuesday.

“I can honestly say, I wouldn’t have made it this far without you 7,” Bell wrote on Twitter. “I appreciate everything, & will miss watching your greatness … One of the very few who’s done it all with ONE TEAM. What a career. I’m proud to say that I ever had a chance to play with you. HOF’er.”

During Bell and Roethlisberger’s time in Pittsburgh together, the duo helped the team win the AFC North three times. They also reached four postseasons together.

While the Steelers play out their fate on Sunday in Week 18, Le’Veon Bell and the Bucs are already locked in at 12-4 on the year. For Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh to make the playoffs, they’ll need to beat Baltimore this weekend and they need Indianapolis to lose.

I can honestly say, I wouldn’t have made it this far without you 7 … I appreciate everything, & will miss watching your greatness…one of the very few who’s done it all with ONE TEAM … what 👏🏾 a 👏🏾career👏🏾 I’m proud to say that I ever had a chance to play with you 🙏🏾💯 HOF’er pic.twitter.com/4b4Q8ScJol

— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) January 4, 2022

Roethlisberger to Pittsburgh fanbase: ‘This is home’

Ben Roethlisberger left Heinz Field a winner on Monday night in what could have been his final home game with the Steelers. The NFL veteran discussed what player in Pittsburgh has meant to him after the game.

“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.”

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.

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%.

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.”