The 2019 NFL campaign was not kind to Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

First, Roethlisberger put forth a rather nightmarish outing in a 33-3 Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots, and the following week, the veteran suffered what ended up being a season-ending elbow injury in a defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks.

Given that Roethlisberger turns 38 years old in a couple of weeks, some are questioning what type of shape the signal-caller will be in come 2020, but Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin says he will be just fine, telling ESPN First Take on Monday morning that he has “no hesitation” that Big Ben will be ready for opening day next season.

“This guy is the ultimate competitor,” added Tomlin, via Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com. “He dropped the gauntlet down. He made the statement he's coming back.”

Pittsburgh handed Roethlisberger a lucrative two-year contract extension at the end of the 2018 campaign, so the Steelers are certainly hoping he is good to go for next year.

Roethlisberger has spent his entire career in Pittsburgh, taking over as the starting quarterback during his rookie campaign in 2004 and holding the job ever since.

RECOMMENDED (Article Continues Below)
Justin Fields surrounded by piles of cash.

Nihad Zunic ·

Throughout that time, the University of Miami (Ohio) product has made six Pro Bowl appearances while leading the Steelers to a pair of Super Bowl titles.

In his most recent full season in 2018, Roethlisberger led the NFL with 5,129 passing yards. He also racked up a league-worst 16 interceptions, but he threw 34 touchdown passes while completing 67 percent of his throws on top of that.