- Growing into a leader: Ben Roethlisberger has come a long way since his rookie year to signing a new five-year contract on Friday that will keep him in Pittsburgh through 2019. He has grown in every way, including becoming a leader, something Steelers' President Art Rooney II clearly sees.
"I think that there's no question Ben, like a lot of players, has grown over the years and truly has become a leader of our team," said Rooney. "I think that the things he does now he's comfortable with in terms of being a leader. You see him out there with the young receivers after practice, really bringing those guys along and helping them understand what it takes to be successful. I think those are the kinds of things that come with age and I'm just happy to see the way he's developed into being that kind of a teammate."
- **
Ben gets better with age**: Roethlisberger is coming off one of the best seasons in his career, setting the Steelers' single season passing records for completions (408), attempts (608), completion percentage (67.1), passing yards (4,952), 300-yard games (9) and games with a passer rating of 100.0 or more (10). And what does he want to do moving forward?
"Just keep trying to get better," said Roethlisberger. "I think the first key to that is staying healthy and staying on the football field. I've been blessed to be able to do that the last two years. Last year was statistically one of my best and that's because we've got a great group of guys around me – great offensive line and obviously a great tight end and running back and receiver.
"I think if we continue to build on that the sky is the limit for this team."
3. **
Room for more**: Just steps away from where Roethlisberger held his press conference is the room where the Steelers six Lombardi Trophies call home.
Roethlisberger has his name on two of them, Super Bowl XL and XLIII, and he wants to add more.
"We are just excited to move forward and get some more Lombardi Trophies in that room next door," said Roethlisberger. "Our goal is to win Lombardi Trophies. I am excited to be able to really put the pedal to the metal. I think we have a good, young football team that has a lot of talent and a lot of ability. Walking over here I asked if there was room in that trophy case for more trophies, because that has to be our ultimate goal."
There's no place like home:Roethlisberger has spent his entire career with the Steelers, and that will continue the next five years. While he was born in Findlay, Ohio, he now calls Pittsburgh home.
"Pittsburgh's home," said Roethlisberger. "People ask me where I'm from – I'm from Pittsburgh. I'm proud that someday my children will say they're from Pittsburgh. This is where I want to be."
Take a look at some of the greatest photographs from the career of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
The best photographs from the career of Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
Take a look at some of the greatest photographs from the career of Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
