Former Steelers CB Blames Roethlisberger for Team's Struggles

Steven Nelson believes the Steelers should have invested more in their defense instead of Ben Roethlisberger's final seasons.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Steven Nelson has criticized the team's decision to keep Ben Roethlisberger on a lucrative contract in his final seasons, arguing it prevented the Steelers from retaining key defensive players and contributed to the team's recent struggles. Nelson believes the Steelers would have been better off investing more in their defense, which was one of the league's best in 2019, rather than committing significant salary cap space to the aging Roethlisberger.

Why it matters

The Steelers have failed to reach the playoffs for the past three seasons since Roethlisberger's retirement, and Nelson's comments highlight the difficult decisions franchises face when trying to balance the needs of an aging star player with building a well-rounded, competitive roster.

The details

Nelson, who was released by the Steelers in 2021, said he was 'upset' that the team 'let Ben dictate keeping that roster together' instead of retaining more defensive players from the 2019 season. The Steelers' defense that year led the NFL with 38 takeaways, but the team narrowly missed the playoffs at 8-8 after Roethlisberger was injured. Nelson believes the Steelers could have been more competitive in the years after if they had invested more in that defensive core rather than Roethlisberger's large contract.

  • Roethlisberger signed a two-year, $68 million contract extension with the Steelers in 2019.
  • Roethlisberger retired following the 2021 season.
  • The Steelers have missed the playoffs for the past three seasons since Roethlisberger's retirement.

The players

Ben Roethlisberger

The legendary Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback who played for the team from 2004 to 2021 before retiring.

Steven Nelson

A nine-year NFL veteran who played cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2019 to 2020 before being released in 2021.

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What they’re saying

“I was upset because they let Ben dictate keeping that roster together moving forward. That's why I was upset. They didn't kick me out of Pittsburgh, they tried to betray me. They tried to trade me and they tried to make me take a pay cut for who? Big Ben. A guy that was declining in his career.”

— Steven Nelson, Former Steelers Cornerback (The Corner Suite Podcast)

What’s next

The Steelers will continue to search for a long-term solution at quarterback as they try to end their playoff drought and return to contention in the AFC.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the difficult balance teams must strike between honoring a franchise icon's final seasons and building a well-rounded, competitive roster for the future. The Steelers' struggles since Roethlisberger's retirement suggest they may have prioritized the quarterback's contract over investing in other key areas of the team.