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If you walk into a local high school gym in Western Pennsylvania or a random suburban golf course this year, you might see a massive guy in a hoodie trying to be invisible. He’s not doing a great job of it. When you’re 6'5" and spent eighteen years as the face of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the "incognito" thing is a bit of a lost cause.
Ben Roethlisberger and family have officially entered that strange, quiet, and surprisingly busy "after" phase. You know the one. It’s the period where a pro athlete goes from dodging 300-pound defensive ends to dodging juice box spills in the back of a Suburban. Honestly, it’s a transition a lot of guys mess up. They can't let go of the spotlight. They chase one last season until their knees give out or their marriages crumble.
But for Ben? It seems different.
The Reality of Life After the NFL
Ben retired in January 2022. It’s 2026 now. That’s enough time for the itch to come back, right? We’ve seen Philip Rivers flirt with a comeback at 44. We saw Tom Brady do... whatever that was for a few years. But when Ben talks on his Footbahlin podcast these days, he sounds like a man who has traded the playbook for a calendar full of carpool shifts.
He recently joked about his current job title: Uber driver.
It’s a funny image, but it’s mostly true. He’s got three kids—Benjamin, Baylee, and Bodie—who are all right in the thick of that age where "weekend" is just another word for "driving to three different zip codes for sports."
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Meet the Roethlisberger Crew
- Ashley Harlan: Ben’s wife. She’s a physician assistant and, by all accounts, the glue. They’ve been married since 2011. She’s notoriously private, staying far away from the "Real Housewives" vibe that some NFL spouses gravitate toward.
- Benjamin Todd (born 2012): The eldest. He’s roughly 13 now.
- Baylee Marie (born 2014): The middle child and only daughter.
- Bodie (born 2016): The youngest, who is hitting that 9- or 10-year-old sweet spot where sports start getting serious.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Comeback Rumors
Every time a Steelers quarterback throws an interception, Twitter (or X, if you must) goes into a meltdown. People start posting photos of Ben in his prime. They track his weight. They look for any sign that he’s "staying in shape" for a late-season run.
Stop it. It’s not happening.
Ben has been pretty vocal about the physical toll. He’s admitted his "lower half" just wasn't there at the end. In a 2025 interview, he mentioned he’d played 249 games and briefly thought about coming back for one more just to hit the 250 mark. A round number. Satisfying, right? But then he remembered the cold. He remembered the hits.
"Zero chance," he said. He’s more interested in the 4th quarter of his kids' games than his own.
The "Sports Dad" Philosophy
You might expect a two-time Super Bowl champ to be that overbearing dad screaming at a 12-year-old referee. We’ve all seen that guy. But Ben has taken a weirdly refreshing stance on youth sports. He actually hates the "specialization" trend.
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He grew up playing basketball, baseball, and football. He thinks kids should do the same. He’s even gone on record saying he’d prefer it if his kids focused on golf. Why? Because you can play golf until you’re 90 and nobody tries to tear your ACL on the 14th green.
There’s a video he shared recently of him playing catch with his sons. He’s wearing his old Steelers helmet and jersey. It looks like a fun, nostalgic moment, but it’s also a reminder: he’s a coach now, just without the headset and the $15 million salary. He’s helping out at places like Quaker Valley, staying close to the game but keeping his weekends mostly free for his own family.
Why the Steelers Connection Still Matters
The Roethlisberger family didn’t pull a "Florida move." They didn't vanish to a mansion in Jupiter to play pickleball all day. They stayed in Pittsburgh.
That matters to the city.
The family is heavily involved in their church—Christ Church at Grove Farm. Ben’s foundation still works with K-9 units and first responders. It’s a very "Pittsburgh" way to exist. You stay, you work, you show up.
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Recently, with Mike Tomlin stepping down in early 2026, Ben’s name has popped up in every "what’s next for the Steelers" conversation. He’s been vocal on his podcast about who should take the reins (he’s a fan of the young, offensive-minded coaching archetype). But don't expect him to be on the sidelines as a coordinator anytime soon.
"Coaching is too much," he told Eli Manning in a recent sit-down. "I want to pack lunches."
The "New" Big Ben
So, what’s the actionable takeaway here? If you’re looking at Ben’s post-career life as a blueprint, it’s about intentionality.
- Prioritize the Exit: He knew when his body was done, even if his arm thought it had one more year.
- Stay Local: There is immense value in building a legacy where you actually live.
- Broaden the Horizon: He didn't just stay a "football guy." He’s a podcaster, a dad, a golfer, and a church member.
If you’re following the Roethlisberger journey, the best place to keep up is actually his podcast, Footbahlin. It’s where the filter is thinnest. You’ll hear about the stress of youth soccer games and the struggle of finding a hobby that replaces the adrenaline of a game-winning drive.
He’s just a guy now. A very tall, very rich guy who is trying to figure out 7th-grade math and the best way to grill a steak. Honestly? That seems like a much bigger win than a third Super Bowl ring.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to see the "dad" side of Ben, check out his latest podcast episodes where he breaks down the Steelers' 2026 coaching search. It’s the perfect mix of expert analysis and the "guy on his porch" vibe he’s perfected since hanging up the cleats.