Ben Roethlisberger details battle with addictions to alcohol, pornography

Nobody's perfect and, quite frankly, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wants you to know that he has his issues just like everyone else. 

Speaking at a virtual conference for Christian men over the weekend, Roethlisberger acknowledged that he's fought off his own demons throughout his football career. 

"It's not always easy," Roethlisberger said, according to ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "People don't realize all the time that us athletes, we're human. We sin like everybody else. I am no different. We make mistakes. We get addicted to things. We sin. We're human. I think sometimes we get put on this pedestal where we can't make mistakes. I've fallen as short as anybody. I've been addicted to alcohol. I've been addicted to pornography, which makes me then not the best husband, not the best father, not the best Christian I can be.

"But you have to dedicate yourself and understand that you can get out of it because of the grace of God and him saying, 'Listen, you're good enough for me the way you are. You don't have to be perfect.'"

Roethlisberger detailed how he grew distant from his Christian faith during his college years at Miami University in Ohio and remained that way through his early professional years. The Steelers quarterback was accused of sexual assault twice and suspended in 2010 for violating the league's personal conduct policy. 

The two-time Super Bowl champion was married to his wife Ashley in 2011. Their marriage and three children helped bring him back to his faith. He discussed his experience with being baptized as an adult three years ago, reaffirming his childhood baptism. The 38-year-old says he's now trying to be a better Christian than he is an athlete. 

Roethlisberger, who missed nearly the entire 2019 season with an elbow injury, also said his relationship with God has allowed him to find comfort during the rehab process. 

The six-time Pro Bowler is expected to be back on the field for the 2020 campaign, though at 38-years-old, it may be his last.