Ben Roethlisberger’s demons include a prior addiction to alcohol and pornography, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback said at the ManUp Pittsburgh conference on Saturday.
Roethlisberger was an invited speaker at the conference, which deals with faith and a man’s role as a husband and father.
Roethlisberger used his 15-minute segment to discuss his shortcomings off the football field.
“I’ve fallen as short as anybody,” Roethlisberger said while speaking with former Steelers player Tunch Ilkin, one of the program’s hosts. “I’ve been addicted to alcohol. I’ve been addicted to pornography, which makes me then 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.”
Twice accused of sexual misconduct a decade ago — he was never charged in either case — Roethlisberger, 38, said it was his marriage to Ashley Harlan in 2011 that brought religion back into his life. The Roethlisbergers are parents to three children,
Porn star Stormy Daniels wrote in her book about an encounter with Roethlisberger, who was introduced to her by Donald Trump at a Lake Tahoe resort in 2006. Daniels said she was “terrified” of Roethlisberger, claiming he tried to kiss her after being escorted by the quarterback back to her hotel room.
Roethlisberger said he lost his way when he left home to attend college at Miami (Ohio).
“It wasn’t like I stopped believing,” he said, “but you’re not sharpening your skills. 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.”
Roethlisberger said he wasn’t equipped to handle the fame and fortune that came with being a first-round draft pick and a quarterback who played in three Super Bowls, winning two, before he turned 30.
“I never got back to where I wanted to be or how I was raised,” he said.
Roethlisberger said his belief in Christ was reinforced three years ago when he got baptized for the second time in his life.
“I just felt that I needed to do that,” he said. “I wanted to have a closer walk, a better relationship with Jesus, my wife, my kids, my family — become a better person.”
ManUp Pittsburgh is a collaboration between Urban Impact and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, who spoke at the conference along with former Pirates manager Clint Hurdle and former Steelers lineman Craig Wolfley.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the conference was held virtually, with Roethlisberger sitting on a bar stool at a table across from Ilkin and answering questions.
“I’m trying to be a better Christian than I am an athlete at football,” Roethlisberger said. “I push myself every day to do that. It starts here. It’s not always easy. People don’t realize all the time that us athletes, we’re human. We sin like everyone else. We make mistakes. We get addicted to things. We sin.”
Roethlisberger said his faith has helped him remain patient after undergoing elbow surgery in September that ended his 2019 season after two games.
“I’m so thankful this injury happened in the walk I’m in now,” he said. “I’m not sure I’d have been able to handle it seven, eight, 10 years ago. My faith wouldn’t have been as strong.”
