5 biggest Steelers fan favorites of the last 20 years
- A player unlike any other at his position
- One player went from 'love' to 'loathe'
By Tommy Jaggi
2. Ben Roethlisberger
Ben Roethlisberger wasn't always one of the biggest fan favorites on the team, and he messed with the fanbase's emotions early in his career. After winning his second Super Bowl, Big Ben was accused of sexual assault and had a civil case pending against him.
As time passed, Roethlisberger slowly started to repair his tarnished reputation with most of the fans. After earning just one Pro Bowl appearance in his first seven seasons, Ben took the next step forward as a quarterback by earning his second Pro Bowl honor in 2011. From there, he played the best football of his career until 2018.
When the elite Steelers defense of the 2000s faded away, Big Ben stepped up to the plate and took the offense to a level that it has never seen before. Along the way, the 6'5'' quarterback shattered every passing record in Pittsburgh's history dating all the way back to 1933.
By the end of his career, fans were in tears as he made his final victory lap around the stadium before going into the tunnel for the very last time. The Steelers could go decades without finding another QB like him. Playing the most important position in sports and leading his team to success, Ben Roethlisberger was one of the biggest fan favorites over the past 20 years in Pittsburgh.