Disclaimer: It is not our role to determine whether or not somebody is a Christian. We just use our discernment based on the evidence we have found on the internet to come to a likely or best-guess answer. Our answers do not actually determine who is or is not a Christian and it is ultimately between the person and God. Not us.
Faith has always been a thing for many NFL players and for Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger, it has been at the forefront of his life even with the accumulated wealth and fame. The NFL quarterback who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers for 18 seasons was born in 1982 in Lima, Ohio.
The 6x pro-bowl winner developed an interest in sports at Findlay High School and captained his high school’s Trojan baseball and basketball teams. He played college football since 2000 after being admitted into Miami University, Ohio. Ben played with RedHawks as a starter for three seasons and broke the school’s single-passing record after completing 399 passing yards. He graduated from college with an unbeaten record in Mid-American Conference (MAC) and was named the MAC offensive player of the year in his final season in college. Also, his jersey “no.7” was retired by the RedHawks in 2007, being the third athlete in the football history of Miami whose jersey number was retired.
Ben’s impressive college statistics led the athlete to be drafted early in the 2004 NFL Draft. He was the second-highest touted quarterback that year and was selected 11th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers where he spent 18 seasons, bagging numerous awards and recognition. The ex-Steelers quarterback is a 2x Super Bowl Champion, 6x Pro Bowl Champion, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year(2004), MAC Most Valuable Player (2003), 2x NFL passing yards leader, Most Career 500-yard passing games among others.
Roethlisberger, who is married to Ashley Harlan with three kids, is often associated with Christianity. This article will provide some assertions and actions to determine Ben Roethlisberger’s status as a Christian.
Is Ben Rothlisberger Religious?
Ben, who has never been ashamed of his faith has publicly detailed how faith has been a huge part of his career and life as a whole. He grabs every opportunity to openly portray his faith and religious beliefs. Ben grew up in a Christian home, went to church frequently, and had parents who were “great Christian people” that were able to imbibe good Christian principles in him.
While discussing his faith and spiritual journey with Tony Dungy, an author, and broadcaster at Grace Church in Eden Prairie last year, in front of over 4,000 spectators and thousands streaming online, Ben disclosed that his early taste of fame made him drift from faith. Despite being a devout Christian, Ben told the crowd that faith took a back seat when he got into college but at a point later in his career, he began rejuvenating and went back to his religion. His words were;
“At the time, I thought a lot of it (his success), because of me and how good I was. Looking back on it now, I realized it was because of how good God made me. Later in my career, I started saying, ‘Listen, God help me. This is your stage, not my stage, “I’m about to go out of this tunnel in front of 70,000 people waving the black and yellow towels, but it’s really about him, not me.”
Ben recounted that while playing for the Steelers, he usually wore shoes with the initials “PFJ” which to the athlete means “Playing for Jesus.”
In a 2020 interview with Sports Spectrum, he asserted, “I went through a phase of my life when I wasn’t growing. My college coach always said, ‘You either improve or you deteriorate; you never stay the same.’ So I’d have to say if I wasn’t improving, I was going down. I wasn’t growing in my faith. Those are the few things I regret and I wish I would have done better in college.” Ever since Ben rededicated his life to God, he has always shown seriousness with his faith and religion.
Does Ben Roethlisberger believe in God?
Ben Roethlisberger is an ardent believer in God and proudly showcases his Christian beliefs. He has acknowledged God severally and attributes his career successes to him.
Following the death of his former teammate, Dwayne Haskins, Ben didn’t lose faith and did not criticize God for letting Dwayne who was also a believer die. Rather he said, “We don’t understand why God does what He does. We have to trust and believe in His plan.”
Roethlisberger revealed in an interview with Fox 23 News that there were times he drifted from his faith but God always had a way of bringing him back. He also told the interviewer that it was the grace of God on him as a believer that helped him escape pornography and alcohol addiction. His words were:
“I’ve fallen as short as anybody, ” Roethlisberger said. I’ve been addicted to alcohol. I’ve been addicted to pornography, which makes me not the best husband, not the best father, not the best Christian I can be. You have to dedicate yourself and understand that you can get out of it because of the grace of God.”
Is Ben Roethlisberger a Christian?
Roethlisberger is one of the many NFL players that have boldly affirmed their faith in Christianity and he has spoken publicly about it severally. Ben was born in a Christian home to devout Christian parents. The former Steelers’ quarterback disclosed that he went to church frequently, upheld Christian beliefs, and was dedicated to the faith. At a stage, he began drifting from faith but recommitted to Christianity in 2017.
Speaking in a virtual conference with ESPN in 2020, Ben shared his battles with alcohol and pornographic addiction and how his rededication to Christianity helped him withdraw from the addictions. In his words:
“It’s not always easy, people don’t realize all the time that we are athletes, we’re human. We sin like everybody else. I am no different. We make mistakes. We get addicted to things. We sin. We’re human. I think sometimes we get to put on this pedestal where we can’t make mistakes. I’ve fallen as short as anybody. I’ve been addicted to alcohol. I’ve been addicted to pornography, which makes me not the best husband, not the best father, not the best Christian I can be. But you have to dedicate yourself and understand that you can get out of it because of the grace of God and him saying, ‘Listen, you’re good enough for me the way you are. You don’t have to be perfect.”
In a recent interview with MovieGuide, Ben reiterated that in college, his Christian faith wasn’t as solid as it was while growing up, but his marriage to Ashley who is also a devout Christian ignited his faith and gave him a good footing. In his words, “It wasn’t like I stopped believing, but you’re not sharpening your skills, you are not reading the Bible. I’m still praying here and there, but I wasn’t as strong of a Christian in college as I wish I would have been like my wife was. I am jealous of her that she was so devout in college“
Ben shared some Christian messages to encourage other professionals to hold strong to their faith and not drift because of career and fame. His words were:
“Now more than ever, it’s cool to be a Christian, especially professional athletes. One of the things I want to tell guys and tell people out there, I can be a really good athlete and a Christian. It’s not one or the other. I can do both. I want it to be known to all of the young men out there, it’s cool to be Christian and be an athlete. Go ahead and be the best athlete you can be and see if you can be a better Christian. And that’s what I’m trying to do now. I’m trying to be a better Christian than I am an athlete and football player. I push myself every day to do that, and it starts here (placing his hand on his bible at the interview). It’s not always easy.”
He mentioned in a 2020 interview with Sports Spectrum that to keep faith alive, he and his teammates held Bible study classes every Friday morning and gathered to pray at the chapel every game eve. Ben Roethlisberger has shown dedication to Christianity and we’re convinced that he is a Christian.
Is Ben Roethlisberger baptized?
Yes! Ben is baptized and was even baptized twice. While sharing his faith journey and how faith helped him overcome addiction as reported by Insider in 2020, Ben stated:
“Three years ago I got baptized. I was baptized as a kid, my parents took me as a baby. But I didn’t make that decision. So three years ago now I decided to be baptized because I felt like I needed to do that. I wanted to have a closer walk, a better relationship with Jesus, with my wife, with my kids, with my family — become a better person. So I think the person that brought me to Him was Jesus. Jesus is the One who brought me back to Him, and I’m so thankful for it because I feel I’m a better Christian, a better husband, and a better father today because of His forgiveness of me.”
What did Ben Roethlisberger say about Jesus?
As a devout Christian and believer in Jesus, Ben often references Jesus Christ who is a central figure of his religion. The former quarterback who hasn’t been shy to express his belief in Jesus, after a match in 2022 shared a message of appreciation with his fans. He said,
“I’m just so thankful for the fans, my family obviously and the good Lord has blessed me in so many ways”
While sharing his faith journey with ESPN in 2020, he disclosed that it was Jesus that pulled him back to himself. According to the athlete,
“Three years ago now I decided to be baptized because I just felt that I needed to do that. I wanted to have a closer walk, a better relationship with Jesus, with my wife, and with my children. So I think the person that brought me to Him was Jesus. Jesus is the One who brought me back to Him, and I’m so thankful for it because I feel I’m a better Christian, a better husband, and a better father today because of His forgiveness of me,” he said.”
Conclusion
Ben Roethlisberger has been outspoken and proud of his Christian beliefs. The ex-quarterback who was baptized at birth was re-baptized to reaffirm and solidify his faith in Christianity. He has identified himself as a Christian both through his his words and actions.
Think we were wrong? Write your reasoning in the comments and prove us wrong!