Roethlisberger: Niners reached out during 2022 season

Ben Roethlisberger might have retired after the 2021 NFL season, but that didn't stop the San Francisco 49ers from giving him a call last season.

The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback told Pittsburgh radio station 105.9 The X's Mark Madden that the Niners contacted him after both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo went down with injury to see if there was any interest in coming back to the game.

“They were, I think, reaching out maybe just to gauge my interest [in a comeback],” the 41-year-old Roethlisberger told Madden (via Steelers Now's Alan Saunders). “I had discussions...I’d be lying if I didn’t say there was a small part of me that was intrigued. I could still do it and prove to people that I could still play. At the end of the day, I just can’t see myself in anything other than Black and Gold.”

Originally taken with the 11th overall selection of the 2004 NFL Draft out of Miami (OH), Roethlisberger played all 17 of his NFL seasons with the Steelers, winning Super Bowls in 2006 and 2009.

He finished his career throwing for 64,088 yards (fifth all-time) on 5,440-for-8,443 passing with 418 touchdowns (eighth all-time) in 249 games played (sixth-most all-time among QBs).

The Lima, OH is eligible for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027.