Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger attending Day 1 of OTAs on May 21, 2024 — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Ben Roethlisberger has been in headlines over the past week because of critical comments his ex-teammate, former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter Sr., made about him last week.
Porter labeled the iconic quarterback as not being a good teammate or person, with some of the frustrations stemming from Roethlisberger’s comments about now-former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin this past season.
During the most recent episode of his “Footbahlin” podcast, Roethlisberger spoke about his takeaways from “I Can Only Imagine 2,” a sequel movie he’d recently seen.
“I think about my own life, and it reminded me of the transformation that I’ve gone through in my life — that only comes from the grace of God,” Roethlisberger said Tuesday. “It only comes through the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. Being sanctified through Him, because I think we all have to grow up. We’re all immature at times, and we’re all selfish. And that’s just part of what happened in the Garden (of Eden). That’s the sin that is in all of us. We’re born inherently sinful and selfish.
“And so, I think, as we grow and we mature, and, again, I say it’s only through the grace of God that we can look back and be like, ‘Man, look how much I’m changed. I’m proud of that.’”
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – DECEMBER 09: Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) makes a pass during a game between the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers on December 9, 2021, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire)
The film’s synopsis reads as an “inspiring next chapter of faith, family, and finding God in the fire.” Former Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison, another player Porter sent shots at, said Monday that Roethlisberger wasn’t a bad teammate, but “could be an asshole.” Harrison also considers himself closer with Roethlisberger than ever before.
“I like to think as we mature and as we grow in our faith — I grow in my faith — that it’s less about me, No. 1,” Roethlisberger said. “I think a lot of us, inherently, that’s what we are. We’re born (thinking), ‘I’m No. 1.’ I think as I’ve grown in my faith and with my family and everything, it’s like, ‘Me needs to come way down and God goes No. 1, my family, my friends and then me.’ And so I think I go through that every day.
“Fast forward five years. I hope then, in five years, I’m looking back at this version of me and still being like, ‘Holy cow, he’s continued to be transformed.’”
Roethlisberger didn’t speak to Porter’s comments during the 41-minute-long episode.
“Not a lot of Steeler news to really hit on. … Obviously, there’s been no — that I can recollect, and I apologize to anybody if there is some — big news out there that we’ve missed,” he said earlier on. “Obviously, the biggest news would probably always be Aaron (Rodgers) and the quarterback situation.”
Mentioned In This Article: Ben Roethlisberger James Harrison Joey Porter Mike Tomlin Pittsburgh Steelers Steelers