Ben Roethlisberger Needs Contract Alteration to Return to Steelers, Per Rooney

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger informed the team he plans to return in 2021, and the two sides plan on working toward a solution to lower his salary-cap hold, owner Art Rooney II told reporters Thursday.

Rooney said the Steelers informed Roethlisberger that his $41.3 million cap number for 2021 is untenable, and some sort of renegotiation will need to take place to lower that figure. A simple solution could see the Steelers sign their longtime quarterback to a contract extension that includes voidable years and converts his $15 million roster bonus into a signing bonus.

The 38-year-old had considered retirement in past seasons and is heading into the final year of his contract, but he maintained throughout 2020 that he planned to honor the remainder of his deal. 

"It's going to start between me and God, a lot of praying. A lot of talking with my family, discussions, decisions. I still have a year left on my contract," Roethlisberger told reporters after the Steelers' loss in the Wild Card Round to the Cleveland Browns. "I hope the Steelers want me back, if that's the way we go. There will be a lot of discussions. But now is not the time for that."

Roethlisberger product threw for 3,803 yards and 33 touchdowns against 10 interceptions in 2020, returning to play 15 games after missing nearly all of the 2019 season because of a shoulder injury. While there were moments the 17-year pro looked like a shell of his former self, he was clearly a superior option to any other option the Steelers had at quarterback.

Mason Rudolph has not been the answer, and the recently signed Dwayne Haskins Jr. has struggled in his two NFL seasons. It's possible the Steelers wind up investing in the position during April's draft, but they're unlikely to be in a position to take one of the draft's top quarterbacks without trading up.

The likeliest solution is Roethlisberger agreeing to a deal that is billed as an "extension" but is more accurately a cap workaround before he retires after the 2021 season.