PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ben Roethlisberger's NFL career is over.
The longtime Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback has announced his retirement.
In a video message, Roethlisberger said it was "time to clean out my locker, hang up my cleats" after 18 years, two Super Bowls, countless team records and a likely spot in the Hall of Fame.
The 39-year-old said it was time to clean out his locker and hang up his cleats.
Roethlisberger called his journey from a kid growing up in Ohio to the 11th overall pick in the 2004 draft to a likely future Hall of Famer "exhilarating," but he added he is retiring "a truly grateful man."
The Steelers never had a losing season during Roethlisberger's tenure and captured Super Bowls 40 and 46.
Roethlisberger won both his last-ever home game at Heinz Field and his final regular season road game to land his team a spot in the AFC Wild Card game, which the would go on to lose to the Kansas City Chiefs.
