PITTSBURGH — Ben Roethlisberger says he wants to get better every time he steps on the field.
The Pittsburgh quarterback has won two Super Bowls, and he's played in a third, but 11 years after being drafted by the Steelers with the 11th overall pick, Roethlisberger has evolved.
He's now this team's undisputed leader.
“You want to improve every single day. Take every lesson you learn, from OTAs, from practices, and put them on the football field and make yourself better,” said Roethlisberger.
FREE APPS | NOW | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
- Pittsburgh ranked 2nd best city in America for baseball fans
- School lunch lady fired after providing free lunches to kids who couldn't afford them
- Plum youth pastor accused of raping 16-year-old girl
- PHOTOS: Ex-Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon goes nuts, gets tossed
He knows he can't run as fast, and his 33-year-old arm has thrown for nearly 40,000 passing yards, but experience has made him a smarter quarterback, and maturity has given him perspective.
Roethlisberger is now married with two young children.
He says being a father has made him a better football player while being a football player has made him a better father.
- Big Ben's wife gives birth to 2nd child
- Steelers' Roethlisberger shares picture of son
- Steelers' Roethlisberger ties the knot
At the top of the priority list after Wednesday's OTA was a father-son haircut with 2 1/2-year-old Benjamin.
https://twitter.com/albyox/status/606157914794041344
“Dad-son time, it teaches patience. I think being a father has made me a better football player, and being a football player has made me a better father. They go hand-in-hand,” said Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger calls former teammate Jerome Bettis a "Hall-of-Famer on and off the field," and although Ben says he doesn't think about his own path to the Hall of Fame, he knows there will come a time when several of his former teammates will be reunited in Canton.
Roethlisberger says he's looking forward to doing more good things with his foundation, but with a new contract comes an even greater sense of responsibility.
He's already the Steelers all-time leader in career wins, passing touchdowns, pass attempts, pass completions and passing yards.
Now his sights are set on winning his third Super Bowl and the seventh for the Steelers.
RELATED BIG BEN CONTENT: