Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger trimming down this off season

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has trimmed down noticeably this off season. Recently, Pat Narduzzi, coach of the University of Pittsburgh football team, tweeted a picture of Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin visiting with the Pitt squad. Something was missing from the picture, however. Take a look:

Great group of visitors at today's practice. @CoachTomlin, @_BigBen7, and Coach Harris. #PittSpringBall #H2P pic.twitter.com/qjC57pCyNc

— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) March 31, 2016

What's missing? About 15 pounds. Turns out Roethlisberger has been on a high-cardio conditioning plan that has resulted in a trimmer physique, according to his agent, Ryan Tollner, via ESPN. Roethlisberger is listed at 6'5" and 240 pounds on the Steelers roster. His huge size has protected him over the years, allowing him to stand in the pocket, absorbing hits and frustrating the best efforts of defenders.

Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy has also received attention for slimming down. He was the subject of fat jokes after appearing large and jiggly during the 2015 season.

Good #weightloss shot of Eddie Lacy @Lil_Eazy_Ana_42 Read @TomSilverstein story here: https://t.co/mGAzhUyaBk pic.twitter.com/2M8lgf8iKa

— Mike De Sisti (@mdesisti) March 27, 2016

Last year, many Steelers players spent the off season optimizing their body composition. Alejandro Villanueva gained over fifty pounds last year, while DeAngelo Williams lost 13. In both cases, the efforts paid off. Time will tell if Roethlisberger's weight loss will improve his level of play.