Surrounded by his wife and two young children and calling Pittsburgh and the Steelers “home, it’s family,’’ Ben Roethlisberger said his new five-year contract was easily accomplished.
“It means a lot,” Roethlisberger said at a news conference at the Steelers offices on the South Side. “I love this place, I love raising my family here. It’s a great environment, a great city.’’
The new contract carries through the 2019 season. No financial terms of the deal were immediately available, although other top quarterbacks have been earning an average of about 20 million annually.
“I think it was an easy deal to get done from what I’ve heard from my representatives,’’ Roethlisberger said.
The new contract also is expected to lower Roethlisberger’s 2015 salary cap number that was to be $18.4 million by lowering his $11.6 million salary under the previous eight-year, $102 million contract he signed in 2008. That contract was to expire after next season. He will more than make up for the lower salary with an as-yet unreported signing bonus that will be pro-rated over the five years of the contract.
By lowering his cap number for 2015, it would increase the salary cap room the Steelers have to sign other players.
“Ben called it a fair contract, I think that’s an accurate description,’’ team president Art Rooney said.
Also attending the news conference were Steelers chairman Dan Rooney, coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert.
The Steelers informed Roethlisberger in 2014 they would wait one more year to negotiate a new contract that traditionally would have taken place, with two years left. Roethlisberger said he had no problem waiting.
“When it's time for them to keep me here, hopefully forever, I trust they know what’s best for this team, what’s best for me and I’m fine with that,’’ he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette before the 2014 season. “I know where I want to be.
“I put my faith and trust in them — when the time is right, we’ll get it done.”
He turned 33 March 2, and if he fulfills this contract, he will be 38 and have had a 16-year career with the Steelers.
“Pittsburgh is home,” Roethlisberger said. “People ask where I’m from — I’m from Pittsburgh. I’m proud that some day my children will say they’re from Pittsburgh. This is where I want to be.”
Roethlisberger had the most prolific passing season of his 11-year career in 2014. He tied for the NFL lead with 4,952 yards passing, breaking his team record. He also led the NFL with an average of 309.5 yards per game passing as the Steelers rebounded from consecutive 8-8 seasons to win the AFC North Division at 11-5.
He became the only quarterback in NFL history to throw six touchdowns each in consecutive games when he did it against Indianapolis and Baltimore at midseason at Heinz Field. He also has played all 16 games in each of the past two seasons.
In 11 seasons, Roethlisberger has thrown for 39,057 yards and 251 touchdowns with a cumulative passer rating of 93.9, all Steelers records. He led the Steelers to three Super Bowls, with two victories.
He has a career record of 106-52 as a starter in the regular season and became only the fourth quarterback in history to win at least 100 games in his first 150 starts; the other three — Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and Tom Brady.
His 2014 performance provided further evidence that Roethlisberger is in his prime and there is no reason to believe he will decline anytime soon.
“I am excited to be able to really put the pedal to the metal,’’ Roethlisberger said. “I think we have a good, young football team that has a lot of talent and a lot of ability.
“Walking over here, I asked if there was room in that trophy case for more [Lombardi] trophies because that has to be or ultimate goal.’’
Beachum earns bonus
Kelvin Beachum earned an additional $297,687 in performance based pay for the 2014 season, the NFL announced Friday. That is the seventh-highest figure among all NFL players and more than half of his $570,000 salary in 2014. The PBP compensated players for playing time based on their salary levels. It is given basically to those who have outplayed their rookie contracts.
Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com and Twitter @EdBouchette.
First Published: March 13, 2015, 7:41 p.m.
Updated: March 14, 2015, 1:49 a.m.