Steelers Can't Rely on Ben Roethlisberger Anymore

Once a bastion of consistency that could throw for 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns with his eyes closed, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has become a complete wild card in the twilight of his career both on the field and with regards to his availability.

The 37-year-old signal caller, who will miss the rest of the 2019 season, can no longer be regarding as a safe bet to lead the team to the playoffs, and they need to start scouring both the professional and college ranks to find a successor.

While Big Ben led the league in passing yards last season, he also did so while missing the playoffs and leading the league in interceptions. When you pair that with the fact that in 2020 he will be 38 and coming off of major elbow surgery, you have to wonder if this is the end of No. 7 in the Steel City.

In this week's matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, Mason Rudolph will get the first of many chances to prove that he can lead this group in the future.

To paraphrase T.S. Eliot, the end of an era for a franchise quarterback ends not with a bang, but a whimper. As great as Roethlisberger was, he might end his football career by slinking off into the night after an unfortunate injury.