3 reasons Randy Fichtner’s departure could spell the end of Ben Roethlisberger
By Tommy Jaggi
Roethlisberger will have to learn a new offense… at age 39
Ben Roethlisberger isn’t exactly a spring chicken anymore. This is the same quarterback who has contemplated retirement in the past, and now has more reason to walk away from the game than ever. With Randy Fichtner leaving, a soon-to-be 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger will have to develop a relationship with a new offensive coordinator in addition to learning an entirely new offense.
Roethlisberger has expressed his dislike from presnap motion and play-action passes in the past. If the new offensive coordinator wants to incorporate this more into the offense, is that going to cause problems with the veteran quarterback? Is Ben going to be able to take criticism and be willing to adjust his game this late in his career? As the saying goes, ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.’
Despite Fichtner’s failures in 2020, I really didn’t think the Steelers would get rid of him until Roethlisberger wanted to be done, as I know this is not a transition that Ben is going to want to go through again. Perhaps there’s something Roethlisberger isn’t telling us, or maybe he has decided to get on board with a coordinator change. Either way, this move makes us question Ben’s pending return in 2021.