Steelers Sign QB Roethlisberger to New Deal
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PITTSBURGH — The Steelers retained the services of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for at least the next eight years when they signed him to an eight-year contract through 2015. Financial terms of the deal were not released.
Roethlisberger, 26, had the finest season of his career in 2007 and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. He completed 264-of-404 passes (65.3 percent) for 3,154 yards and set team records with 32 touchdown passes and a 104.1 passer rating. He had only 11 passes intercepted.
"Ben has been an outstanding leader on the field for the Steelers since his rookie year and we are very happy to know that he will be our quarterback for many years to come," said Steelers President Art Rooney II.
Roethlisberger became the youngest quarterback in NFL history (23 years, 11 months) to win a Super Bowl when he led the Steelers to a 21-10 win against the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. He set an NFL record in 2004 by becoming the first quarterback ever to win his first 13 starts in a single season, still an NFL rookie record.
"I am really happy to know that I will be wearing a Steelers uniform for the foreseeable future because my intention all along was to stay in Pittsburgh," said Roethlisberger. "We have the greatest organization and fan support in the NFL and I'm looking forward to winning more Super Bowl titles that we can celebrate together."
Roethlisberger holds Steelers records for career passer-rating (92.5) and completion percentage (63.3). He has recorded a perfect passer rating three separate times during his four-year career. Roethlisberger also ranks second all time in Steelers history with 84 touchdowns and fourth with in passing yards (11,673) and completions (908).
Selected by the Steelers with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, Roethlisberger has started 55 of 56 games played and has compiled a 39-16 (.709) regular season winning percentage, second best among all active NFL quarterbacks. He owns the top three single season marks for both completion percentage and passer rating in Steelers history, and has led the team to 13 fourth-quarter come-from-behind wins.
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