Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger on Heath Miller's retirement: "One of the most selfless people I've been around"

The news of Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Heath Miller took the fan base by surprise. With one year left on his current contract, most fans believed Miller would fulfill his contractual obligations to the team before calling it a career. Although the fans might not have been privy to such information, when Ben Roethlisberger talked with Bob Pompeani of 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, he said he had a feeling it was coming.

"I kind of knew it was coming. I thought there was a slight chance I'd be able talk him out of it because I thought he was productive and I wanted him to know that he was still very valuable to us as a player and a teammate,"

Roethlisberger wasn't alone with his sentiment of trying to coerce Miller into playing in 2016. Both DeAngelo Williams and James Harrison tried too, but it did no good to the 11-year veteran. Miller walking away from the game at 33-years-old certainly made some eyebrows raise and wonder why. Roethlisberger certainly believes it has to do with his overall health.

"I'm sure that his total health in general was probably a big part of it, from head to toe," Roethlisberger said.

The biggest injury of Miller's career was the torn ACL in the season finale in 2012. The injury severely crippled any mobility the University of Virginia product had left in his body, but it didn't stop him from being effective both in the passing and running games.

Most fans will remember Miller for his tenacious ability to go over the middle and take on any linebacker or defensive back who dare stand in his way, but for Roethlisberger, he will always view him as a friend, and not just a teammate.

"It was all about the team, wins and the team. And putting teammates ahead of himself, he was always that way," Roethlisberger said. "He was one of the most selfless people I've ever been around."

To hear the entire interview, listen to the player below: