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Ben Roethlisberger is finally hanging up the cleats after 18 seasons in the NFL, winning the Super Bowl twice in the midst of it all. The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is undoubtedly getting a nice sendoff, but some on Twitter are taking some parting shots as well.
Roethlisberger, 39, has been at the heart of the Steelers offense since 2004 after three seasons slinging the ball for the Miami University football team in Ohio. A first-round pick at #11, Roethlisberger won the 2004 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award ahead of making the Pro Bowl six times and the aforementioned Super Bowl wins in 2006 and 2009.
Off-field Controversy followed Roethlisberger as much as on-field success defined him to football fans. Between 2009 and 2010, two women came forth claiming that Roethlisberger engaged in sexual misconduct with them although none of the claims lead to charges.
In the 2009 case, one woman filed a civil lawsuit against the quarterback and a Nevada hotel where she was employed. The woman said in the suit that Roethlisberger allegedly tricked her to come into his room in the summer of 2008, claiming he needed help with a broken television. The woman claimed Roethlisberger blocked the entrance, tried to kiss the woman, and grabbed her.
The NFL did not levy any punishment against Roethlisberger in either case.
Roethlisberger was also dogged by claims of being a difficult presence in the locker room and reportedly had it out for several former teammates who have spoken out against the NFL star.
On Twitter, the celebration and roasting of Ben Roethlisberger are seemingly in tandem, and we’ve got the reactions below.
2x Super Bowl champion QB Ben Roethlisberger announces his retirement from the NFL after an 18-year career. pic.twitter.com/uaNsvOl0NV
— NFL (@NFL) January 27, 2022
A message from Ben:@steelers #NFL #SteelersNation #ThankYou#HereWeGo #LoveAndHonor pic.twitter.com/pUbKGO1nUs
— BigBen7.com (@_BigBen7) January 27, 2022
—
Photo: Getty
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1.
Long before Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, Ben Roethlisberger emerged as the NFL’s next fearless gunslinger.
Some of my favorite ridiculous throws from his 2004 rookie season with the Steelers. pic.twitter.com/QBrF7XuyQz
— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) January 27, 2022
2.
Ben Roethlisberger 10 minutes after announcing his retirement pic.twitter.com/hXMgb8IvYf
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) January 27, 2022
3.
Not Ben Roethlisberger announcing his retirement and ‘Big Rape’ immediately trending. pic.twitter.com/8tX84LYm0t
— LastAdonitologistOfKrypton (@GodofKrypton) January 27, 2022
4.
Ben Roethlisberger’s 18 seasons are the most by any player without ever playing for a losing team (sub-.500 win pct) in NFL history
It helped that he led 53-game winning drives in his career … only Peyton Manning had more in the Super Bowl era (54)
: Don Wright/AP pic.twitter.com/ZAMOPxLqEC
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) January 27, 2022
5.
Patrick Mahomes ended both Andrew Luck and Ben Roethlisberger’s careers. pic.twitter.com/HQ3rF5wIF2
—
(@LanceTHESPOKEN) January 27, 2022
6.
January 27th in Steelers history:
– 2022: Ben Roethlisberger officially retires
– 1970: Terry Bradshaw drafted
– 1969: Chuck Noll hired
– 1901: Art Rooney’s birthday— Shelby Cassesse (@ShelbyCassesse) January 27, 2022
7.
BIG RAPE IS FINALLY GONE REST IN PISS pic.twitter.com/LSAiwUGk2z
— Ðrê (@TaxEvasionDre) January 27, 2022
8.
LOL y’all some demons on twitter! The moment Ben Roethlisberger announces his retirement “Big Rape” started trending pic.twitter.com/xCLLI9dzAR
— Lamont (Jets Off-Season) (@UndeadClover) January 27, 2022
9.
Steelers fans: “Put some respect towards Big Ben’s football career and stop calling him Big Rape.”
Me: pic.twitter.com/HvWoY5nLxv
— Suede Cunningham
Misty.mp4 (@MillyBeamen) January 27, 2022
10.
How y’all dancing at Big Rape’s retirement party? pic.twitter.com/i4zMrY05vP
— Eric Adams Is Wylin (@LowKickCombo) January 27, 2022