Steelers Future Hall of Famer Makes Practice Appearance

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a special guest at their joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jan 16, 2022; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in an AFC Wild Card playoff football game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Imagesdd | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Pittsburgh Steelers had quite the guest at their joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Acrisure Stadium on Thursday ahead of their preseason bout on Saturday.

8️⃣ ✖️ 7️⃣@AaronRodgers12 | @_BigBen7 pic.twitter.com/3eCdAE6LhZ

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) August 14, 2025

Franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger made the rounds on the Steelers' sideline, with the team's official X account posting a picture of him standing alongside the final quarterback still active from his own era in Aaron Rodgers.

The two future Hall of Famers only faced each other twice in the regular season, with Roethlisberger and the Steelers coming out on top by a score of 37-36 on December 20, 2009 while Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers won 27-17 on October 3, 2021.

Aug 23, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) talk at mid-field before their game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Rodgers and Roethlisberger's most famous matchup, however, came in Super Bowl XLV on February 6, 2011. The latter had already won two Lombardi Trophies up to that point, but the former captured his first, and only, one of his career with the Packers in this instance by defeating Pittsburgh 31-25.

Steelers Now photographer Ed Thompson posted a picture on his X account of Roethlisberger and his sons talking to kicker Chris Boswell, and the six-time Pro Bowl signal caller was also seen alongside head coach Mike Tomlin.

Surprise guest today here at @steelers and @Buccaneers joint practice is future HOFer @_BigBen7 and family. @PghSteelersNow #NFL #Steelers pic.twitter.com/DFRLKAi3Fv

— Ed Thompson (@ThompsonFoto12) August 14, 2025

Pat Freiermuth, whose rookie season in 2021 was Roethlisberger's last before retiring, said it was good to see his former quarterback again.

“It was great to see Ben,” Freiermuth said. “It was great to chop it up with him. Great to see his kids. He’s one of my all-time favorites. It was great to see him.”

The No. 11 overall pick out of Miami (OH) in the 2023 NFL Draft, Roethlisberger spent his entire 18-year career in Pittsburgh.

His previously mentioned Super Bowl victories with the team came in 2005 over the Seattle Seahawks and in 2008 over the Arizona Cardinals. Roethlisberger played in a total of 23 playoff games as a member of the Steelers and compiled a 13-10 record while throwing for 5,972 yards, 36 touchdowns and 28 interceptions over that stretch.

He also threw for 64,088 yards and 418 touchdowns in 249 regular season contests, which rank fifth and eigth all-time, respectively.

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