November 2007 – They weren’t just playing the Ravens that night – they were playing for history. Heinz Field was soaked in rain, but the nostalgia was pouring heavier. As Terry Bradshaw, Mean Joe Greene, Franco Harris, and every other Steelers legend lined the sidelines, Ben Roethlisberger casually dropped five touchdowns in the first half like he was running a backyard clinic. Santonio Holmes danced into the end zone. James Harrison hit Ed Reed so hard, you could hear it in Ohio. It wasn’t a football game – it was a Steelers tribute concert with Big Ben as the lead singer and Mike Tomlin conducting the orchestra.

For nearly two decades, Ben Roethlisberger’s arm carried the weight of a city – and occasionally, a few defenders. Now, it’s his name carrying weight in Steelers history. The franchise’s all-time leader in just about every passing category has officially been selected to the Steelers’ Hall of Honor. And fittingly, he’s going in alongside two familiar names – Joey Porter and Maurkice Pouncey. Over the weekend, Steelers president Art Rooney Jr. announced the franchise’s 2025 Hall of Honor class at Saint Vincent College. 

The announcement dropped via the team’s X account as well: “Introducing the Hall of Honor Class of 2025!” Cam Heyward wasted no time jumping into the comments with a playful flex – “My teammates! 😂😂😂” – the kind of reaction only a locker room brother could pull off. Mike Tomlin went the sentimental route on Instagram. “Man, what a small and really special group we have going in the Hall of Honor this year,” Tomlin said in a short video message. “I just want to send a big congratulations to Ben and Joey and Maurkice. Man, I can’t wait to have you guys back and participate in it. Well-deserved.” He also praised them as “great representatives of the Pittsburgh Steelers.” 

And make no mistake – Ben Roethlisberger isn’t just another name on a wall. He’s the franchise’s all-time leader in pretty much every meaningful passing stat. Fifth in NFL history in yards. Eighth in touchdowns. Fifth in career wins by a starter. And no one – literally no one – has more 500-yard passing games than him. Roethlisberger wasn’t just a stat monster, though those numbers don’t hurt. From that shoestring tackle in ‘05 to the laser to Santonio Holmes in Super Bowl XLIII, the man-made moments. And now, he finally has a place to match them.

He’s the guy who made toe-tap throws in Super Bowls look routine and chased down defenders when everything was on the line. Let’s not forget: Pittsburgh hasn’t had a losing season since his rookie year. That’s 21 straight seasons. Eight division titles. Twelve playoff runs. And every time it felt like the Steelers were done, Ben Roethlisberger would rip a 4th-quarter comeback and silence the doubters. For Roethlisberger, the honor itself is huge. But going in with Pouncey? That’s what hit home.

Big Ben & Pouncey – Brotherhood beyond the ball

The duo played 11 seasons together. Ten of those involved Pouncey snapping the ball directly into Ben Roethlisberger’s hands. The quarterback-center bond is different – it’s part communication, part blind trust, and all loyalty. And for those two, it was something even deeper. “That probably means as much going in with him,” Roethlisberger said. “Other than Heath Miller, I can’t imagine going in with anyone better.”

They wanted to retire together. They almost did. But after the crushing 48-37 loss to the Browns in the 2021 Wild Card game, it was only Pouncey who walked away. The moment they shared on the sidelines? Brutal. Real. “I’m sorry, brother. You’re the only reason I wanted to do this, man,” Ben’s voice was cracking as he told his center. “Oh I feel worse for you than me. I hate it, man.” It wasn’t just emotion. It was respect. Ben Roethlisberger later called Pouncey “the greatest teammate and competitor I’ve been around.” And that’s coming from a guy who’s played with legends.

Now, finally, both are going in together – immortalized not just as players, but as brothers. Because the Steelers Hall of Honor isn’t just for talent; it’s for loyalty. For grit. For Sundays that turn into decades of memories. And for duos like Ben Roethlisberger and Pouncey, who never needed to say much – they just lined up, went to war, and earned their place in history.