Ben Roethlisberger voices frustration on final season with Steelers

The Steelers seem to have a new fan favorite after experimenting with a position change, but the news came as somewhat frustrating to former QB Ben Roethlisberger.

"I heard this week that the guy that they drafted, and I love this guy so this is not a knock on him, I love Kendrick Green, he was a great guy, good teammate, he was my center my last year," Roethlisberger said on his "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger" podcast. "They drafted that guy to be my center. Well, last year he didn't even dress and now they have him playing a little bit of fullback."

Most have loved the idea of Green changing positions to fullback but Roethlisberger, who feels like he was pushed to retire, feels he wasn't set up for success in his farewell season.

Green, who has primarily played center through his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, has taken snaps at fullback during training camp and is expected to see time at the position on Friday when the team takes on the Buccaneers in its first preseason action.

He started 15 games as a rookie after being drafted by the Steelers in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft. However, Green lost his starting role to veteran Mason Cole, who signed a three-year deal with the team last offseason.

Some believe Green could even be cut when Pittsburgh trims its roster down to 53, so a switch to fullback may be exactly what saves Green’s career. Roethlisberger agrees and is rooting for him, but it still gives him a laugh when looking back on his final year with the Steelers.

"I think good for him to find a way to get on the field," Roethlisberger added. "But it's still funny that that's the guy they got for me."