Big Ben. The beard, the pump fakes, and that weirdly effective "playground" style of football that looked like a car crash but ended in a touchdown. If you're a Steelers fan, he’s a legend. If you're anyone else, he’s probably the guy who escaped 19 sacks in one play just to break your heart. But when people look back at his 18-year career in Pittsburgh, the first thing they ask is always the same: how many super bowl rings does ben roethlisberger have?
Honestly, the answer is simpler than his stat sheet. Ben Roethlisberger has two Super Bowl rings.
He went to the big dance three times. He won twice. He lost once. That's the bird's-eye view, but if you actually watched those games, you know the "how" and "when" are way more interesting than just the final count.
The First One: Super Bowl XL and the Youngest QB Ever
Back in 2005, Ben was basically a kid. At 23 years old, he became the youngest starting quarterback to ever win a Super Bowl when the Steelers beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-10.
Here’s the thing: Ben was kinda terrible in this game.
Stats don't lie. He went 9-of-21 for 123 yards and threw two interceptions. His passer rating was a measly 22.6. To put that in perspective, if he had just thrown the ball into the dirt every single play, his rating might have actually been higher. It was a "defense and running game" kind of win.
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But you've got to give him credit for the tackle. Earlier in the playoffs, against the Colts, Jerome Bettis fumbled near the goal line. Ben made a shoestring tackle on Nick Harper that saved the entire season. Without that tackle, he has zero rings. In the Super Bowl itself, he had a crucial scramble for a touchdown that—depending on which side of the state line you live on—either definitely crossed the goal line or was a total gift from the refs.
The Masterpiece: Super Bowl XLIII
If the first ring was a "carry me" job, the second one was all Ben. Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals is widely considered one of the greatest games ever played.
It was February 2009. The Steelers were down 23-20 with only a couple of minutes left. The air was thick in Tampa. Kurt Warner had just marched the Cardinals down the field, and it felt like the "Sixburgh" dream was dying.
Then Ben happened.
He orchestrated an 88-yard drive that looked like something out of a movie. He was 5-of-7 on that drive. The climax? A six-yard pass to Santonio Holmes in the corner of the end zone.
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"I remember Ben coming over and telling us, 'We got this. We got this.'" — Max Starks, Steelers Offensive Tackle.
It was a perfect throw. Holmes stretched out, tapped his toes, and secured the 27-23 victory. That drive is basically the definitive moment of Ben’s career. It’s why he’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
The One That Got Away: Super Bowl XLV
In 2011, Ben had a chance to join the elite "three-ring club" (think Brady, Bradshaw, Montana). The Steelers faced Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
This one hurts for Pittsburgh fans.
Ben threw two interceptions, including a back-breaking pick-six to Nick Collins. He almost pulled off another miracle comeback—because that’s just what he did—but the Steelers fell short 31-25.
Interestingly, Ben recently revealed he almost didn't play that game. He’d stepped on a piece of wood while playing shuffleboard barefoot at a rental house in Dallas, and a huge splinter got stuck deep in his foot. He played the Super Bowl with shards of wood literally embedded in his heel.
Why the Ring Count Matters for His Legacy
When we talk about how many super bowl rings does ben roethlisberger have, we’re really talking about where he sits in the hierarchy of Greats.
Two rings puts him in a very exclusive group. He’s tied with guys like Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, and Roger Staubach. He’s ahead of legends like Drew Brees, Brett Favre, and Aaron Rodgers (who all have one).
- Longevity: He played 18 seasons, all with the Steelers.
- Clutch Gene: He finished with 53 game-winning drives, tied for third all-time.
- The Stats: Over 64,000 passing yards.
There’s always going to be a debate about whether he was a "top tier" quarterback or just a "great" one who had amazing defenses. But the rings usually end that argument. You don't win a ring with an 88-yard game-winning drive by accident.
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What to Remember About Big Ben's Hardware
If you're settling a bet at a bar or just curious about NFL history, here is the quick breakdown of Ben’s Super Bowl resume:
- Super Bowl XL (2006): Win vs. Seattle. Youngest QB to win.
- Super Bowl XLIII (2009): Win vs. Arizona. The Santonio Holmes catch.
- Super Bowl XLV (2011): Loss vs. Green Bay. The "splinter" game.
He walked away from the game in 2021 with his health (mostly) intact and two pieces of jewelry that most players would sell their souls for.
If you want to dive deeper into how Roethlisberger compares to other legends, your next step is to look at the all-time QB win leaders. Seeing where Ben stacks up against Tom Brady’s seven rings or Joe Montana’s four gives you a real sense of just how hard it is to get even one of these things. Check out the current NFL career passing leaders list to see how Ben's volume stats hold up against the modern era of pass-heavy offenses.