Does Ben Roethlisberger plan to pull a Philip Rivers, make return to NFL?

Pittsburgh Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger hasn't played in a meaningful game since he retired in January 2022. That said, 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers hadn't taken an in-game snap since January 2021 until he rejoined the Indianapolis Colts last week and then started for the Colts at the Seattle Seahawks this past Sunday. 

While speaking with reporters ahead of his Steelers Hall of Honor induction on Monday evening, Roethlisberger was asked if he missed playing enough to follow in Rivers' footsteps. 

Ben Roethlisberger makes feelings on potential NFL return clear

"No," Roethlisberger responded, per Brigid Kennedy of Sports Illustrated. "18 years, I got to do it so much. I realized [Sunday] night, which is crazy, that I played 249 games. And I was like, do I come back for one more to get 250? Just a round number? But no, it's too much now. Every once in a while, I think about the fourth quarter, having the ball in my hands, but other than that, I don't miss it." 

In the spring of 2023, Roethlisberger said he "was in conversations" to join the San Francisco 49ers at some point during the 2022 season when 49ers quarterbacks Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo were sidelined with injuries. It's now known that the 49ers would have turned to Rivers over Roethlisberger had they made it to Super Bowl LVII after Brock Purdy went down with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, in part because San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan thought Rivers would have been more "ready to go." 

Rivers had participated in some 49ers install meetings via Zoom during that season. More recently, he completed 18-of-27 passes for 120 yards with a touchdown and an interception in Indianapolis' 18-16 loss to Seattle on Dec. 14. 

Ben Roethlisberger doesn't miss this aspect of playing

Roethlisberger also chatted with Pittsburgh television station WTAE on Monday and made it known there is "zero chance" he will return to the NFL as an active player. 

"Do you know how cold it is out there? I don't want to get hit out there," Roethlisberger said, per Matthew Marczi of Steelers Depot. 

According to Daniel Mader of The Sporting News, the outside temperature was around 20 degrees at the start of Monday's game between the Steelers and the Miami Dolphins.