Paying homage to the plays which gave Ben Roethlisberger the nickname ‘Big Ben’

Back in 2004, as a college student, I watched as the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Ben Roethlisberger and instantly became enamored with the man they called ‘Big Ben’. It wasn’t that Roethlisberger was larger than life, nor even the streak of games he won as a rookie — but the way he played the game.

You don’t see these types of plays from Roethlisberger as much as you used to. He’s more cerebral as a quarterback now and less of a gunslinger. But every now and then, you’ll get a glimpse of that athleticism and playmaking ability from his younger years.

Those are the plays where you sit back and say, “There’s Big Ben!”

I recall a play on the final offensive drive in the playoff loss to the Jaguars last year when Roethlisberger scrambled and ran the football. As he passed the line of scrimmage, a defensive back approached. He faked a pitch to no one...froze the defensive back...and scampered for more yardage.

Vintage Big Ben.

It was while looking for this play online that I found the best “street-ball” plays of Roethlisberger’s career. Check it out, sit back and enjoy the wizardry of Big Ben, and take it all in as he hopefully brings another championship back to Pittsburgh in the coming years.