For nearly 20 years, Ben Roethlisberger was the Pittsburgh Steelers’ franchise quarterback. From his first season, he helped elevate them to Tremendous Bowl contenders. Nonetheless, he wasn’t the one quarterback that the Steelers had on their roster. Byron Leftwich, a former first-round choose by the Jacksonville Jaguars, had two separate stints with the Steelers. The primary got here in 2008, with the second being from 2010 to 2012. Roethlisberger not too long ago defined how Leftwich’s first time in Pittsburgh introduced some stress.
“We had been comparatively cool with one another earlier than, simply because we had been solely a 12 months aside. We each performed within the MAC,” Roethlisberger stated Tuesday on his podcast, Footbahlin’ with Ben Roethlisberger. “We knew one another, did some soccer issues collectively.
“Very cordial to one another. Then, when he got here right here, I believed we had been gonna be that method, and it became this aggressive factor. There actually wasn’t a lot of a friendship. It was form of bizarre, I believed.”
In 2008, Roethlisberger was the Steelers’ solidified beginning quarterback. He had already gained a Tremendous Bowl with them and simply made his first Professional Bowl the 12 months earlier than. His spot was secure, as evidenced by his Tremendous Bowl heroics that very same 12 months. Due to this fact, it’s odd to listen to that Leftwich was making an attempt to compete with him.
Nonetheless, it’s essential to take a look at the context of the place Leftwich was in his soccer profession at the moment. He flamed out with the Jaguars, not dwelling as much as his draft spot and being lower proper earlier than the 2007 common season began. Leftwich signed a two-year cope with the Atlanta Falcons shortly after that, however he didn’t do a lot there, both. The Falcons lower him after only one season with them.
Then, Leftwich signed a one-year cope with the Steelers. At that time, he seemingly felt that he might nonetheless be a starter within the NFL. He most likely had one thing to show. Nonetheless, his position within the NFL was altering. By that time, he match higher as a backup.
Whereas Leftwich left the Steelers after the 2008 season, signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he would return to Pittsburgh. As Roethlisberger explains, Leftwich was rather more useful and accepting of his position in his second outing with the Steelers.
“When he got here again, he was like, ‘I used to be flawed. I’m not gonna beat you out. I’m right here to assist you and provide help to.’ We’re nonetheless actually good buddies… I feel he went and got here again, and it was like he realized methods to be a professional.
“I feel he’d be the primary to inform you how that complete factor went down. Having him in that room with me the second time round was so helpful to me. It helped me develop a lot as a result of I trusted issues that he stated.”
Roethlisberger has been a supporter of Leftwich previously, and it’s straightforward to see why with what he says right here. Roethlisberger was a incredible participant when he was youthful, however there have been some elements of his sport that he wanted to scrub up. Through the 2010s, he began to develop extra as a passer.
In 2010, Roethlisberger threw solely 5 interceptions in 12 video games, serving to the Steelers return to the Tremendous Bowl. The next 12 months, he made his second Professional Bowl and likewise recorded his second 4,000-yard passing season. Throughout Leftwich’s remaining season in Pittsburgh, Roethlisberger threw for 26 touchdowns and solely eight interceptions.
These years introduced a number of development for Roethlisberger, and it looks as if a few of that may be attributed to Leftwich. He solely appeared in three video games in these three years with the Steelers, however his worth was extra current off the sector. Contemplating that Leftwich was a coach within the NFL from 2016 to 2022, it’s clear that his thoughts is razor-sharp. With out him, Roethlisberger’s profession would possibly’ve been completely different.
