The Pittsburgh Steelers and QB Ben Roethlisberger have agreed to a two-year extension. The 37 year old Roethlisberger, who was drafted 15 years ago today, officially signed his new contract just after 10:15 a.m. this morning. Roethlisberger had one year left on a four-year, $87.6 million contract he signed in 2015. The two-year extension will keep Roethlisberger under contract through the 2021 season and will be announced by the club today as a new three year contract.
In dealing the Antonio Brown drama from day 1 this offseason, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert made it clear months ago the organization was all-in on Roethlisberger moving forward in trying to make the most of the small window he still has at his age.
“Ben is the unquestioned leader of this group,” GM Kevin Colbert said on Feb. 20 at the combine that drew controversy. “He’s the elder statesmen and the only Super Bowl winner remaining on the roster. If our players were smart, they’d listen to him because he’s been there, he’s done it. He can tell them, ‘No, guys, what you’re doing is or is not good enough.’ And I honestly believe that can be a burden on him more often than he may like to admit, because he has to he’s got 52 kids under him, quite honestly. I want them to step up and say, ‘Hey, Ben, what do I have to do? Can I do this better? What do we have to do to win a Super Bowl?’