Steelers sign Ben Roethlisberger to a new 3-year contract

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The “Big” Ben Roethlisberger era will continue in Pittsburgh for at least a few more years.

Pittsburgh Steelers fans have seen a significant amount of change since Bill Cowher left the team in 2007, but there has been one constant in Ben Roethlisberger. On Wednesday, the Steelers agreed to a new three-year deal with the quarterback they drafted on this very day 15 years ago.

The extension will keep Roethlisberger under contract with the Steelers through 2021 and almost certainly assures him of finishing his career in Pittsburgh. This is also the same year that the rookie contract of Mason Rudolph will expire.

When speaking to Teresa Varley of Steelers.com, Roethlisberger expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to end his career in the city it started.

“I am grateful to the Rooneys and the Steelers organization for continuing to believe in me. It has always been a goal to play my entire career in Pittsburgh. This is home for me and my family, and we love this city. I am as excited to be a Steeler in year 16 as I was when they drafted me. They will get my absolute best.”

Team President Art Rooney II was equally to happy be able to keep Big Ben on the roster for at least a few more years yet.

“I am pleased to announce Ben Roethlisberger has been signed to a new three-year contract. Ben is one of the most productive quarterbacks in NFL history, and he continued to climb the lists among the all-time passing leaders in the League last season. But I know Ben’s focus is on only one goal – to bring another Lombardi trophy back to Pittsburgh. We are excited to finalize this new contract that will keep him as a Steeler through the 2021 season.”

Selected with the 11th overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft, Roethlisberger was originally set to earn a base salary of $12 million in 2019 and a roster bonus of $5 million that was due earlier in the month. His new deal is expected to pay him in the region of $30 million a year.

Contract numbers have yet to be released, but we will be sure to update this post once they become available. However, given the length of the extension, fans should not expect to see much in the way of cap savings in 2019, with the new contract quite likely using up a bit more of their existing cap space this year than originally scheduled.