Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has undoubtedly been the face of the great Pittsburgh Steelers franchise for 18 long years. After breaking several records and leading the team to a couple of Super Bowl titles, the 39-year-old has finally decided to hang his cleats by the end of the 2021 NFL season.

Without a doubt, he was able to make a valuable impact on both his team and the entire league that many will remember in the years to come. Now riding into the sunset, it's just right to take a trip down memory lane and reminisce some of the greatest career highlights that the legendary QB has had through the years.

Ben Roethlisberger Greatest Career Moments

5. 2004 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year

Coming into the league as the 11th overall pick in the 2004 season, Ben Roethlisberger wasn't initially set to take over the franchise as its starting quarterback. He was forced to play behind two veterans in Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch as a third-stringer on the bench.

However, things changed when Batch suffered an injury in pre-season as Maddox took over as the team's QB1. In Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, Maddox then sustained an injury of his own that forced the Steelers to play the rookie Roethlisberger under center.

As their new starting QB, the Ohio native went on to lead the team to a 13-0 record in their next games to finish the season with a stellar 15-1 record. He concluded his rookie campaign with a total of 2,621 passing yards on 196-of-295 completions to go with 17 touchdowns en route to be unanimously voted as the 2004 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and as part of the All-Rookie Team.

4. 12 TDs in two games

10 years later, Ben Roethlisberger had another memorable moment when he recorded 12 touchdowns in two games. In Weeks 8 and 9 of the 2014 NFL season, he completed an insane scoring barrage and compiled a total of 862 yards without an interception recorded at two straight home games.

Against the Indianapolis Colts and the Ravens, Roethlisberger reached new heights as he tied his own career-high for touchdown passes in a game with six. He also notched a personal best 522 passing yards in that game against the Colts for a 51-34 blowout win.

Roethlisberger went on to lead the league in passing yards while also grabbing his third Pro Bowl selection by the end of the 2014 season.

3. Game-saving tackle against the Colts

In the 2005 season, the Steelers faced the daunting task of upsetting the top-seeded Colts in the AFC Divisional Round. With 1:20 left in the fourth quarter, running back Jerome Bettis was seemingly on his way to the endzone to extend the team's three-point lead over the Colts.

He then fumbled in the thick of the Colts' defense which led opposing defensive back Nick Harper to grab the ball and run the other way. Ben Roethlisberger then hustled and made the game-winning tackle to prevent the defender from taking it all the way to the endzone.

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It was surely a game-changing move by the QB as Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt went on to miss a 46-yard field goal attempt which eventually sent Pittsburgh to the AFC Championship Game. The Steelers advanced all the way to Super Bowl XL and ultimately won against the Seattle Seahawks to give Roethlisberger the first crown of his career.

2. Delivering the goods with a broken nose

In Week 13 of the 2010 season against the Ravens, Ben Roethlisberger and company were trailing their division rivals all game long. In the first quarter, the QB was sacked by both defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and linebacker Terrell Suggs in a play that eventually bloodied him and broke his nose.

Roethlisberger had it fixed by the medical staff and returned back to action as if nothing happened. With 2:51 left in the fourth quarter, he then threw a TD pass to running back Isaac Redman which lifted the Steelers to a 13-10 lead en route to complete a come-from-behind victory.

The quarterback produced 253 yards on 22-of-38 passes to go with a touchdown and interception against the Ravens. Absorbing a huge hit and delivering the game-winning touchdown with a broken nose is only one of many moments in the Steelers-Ravens rivalry that will surely be remembered for the years to come.

1. Super Bowl-winning dime to Santonio Holmes

Topping this list is one of the best Super Bowl plays of all time which occurred in the Steelers' Super Bowl XLIII matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. In that game, Pittsburgh was trailing by three points with 35 seconds left in the final frame.

Raring to make a good offensive play, Roethlisberger faked in the pocket and was able to locate Santonio Holmes at the corner of the endzone. The wide receiver was able to catch the ball through multiple defenders and made sure to have both of his feet within the plane to score the game-winning touchdown.

With a 27-23 victory, Holmes was eventually named the Super Bowl MVP as Ben Roethlisberger won the second title of his career with the Steelers in the 2008 season.