Saturday 29 July 2017 16:32, UK
Ben Roethlisberger has hinted his playing days may be coming to an end, and that he is ready to spend more time with his family.
In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers' quarter-back admits it was important for him to play in the forthcoming NFL season but appears to suggest retirement is certainly a consideration in 2018.
The 35-year-old has played in two Super Bowl-winning teams, and has also been selected for five Pro-Bowl matches, during an NFL career which began in 2006.
Roethlisberger, who flirted with retirement at the end of 2016, told the Gazette: "It's 14 years. That's a long time. I think the average life expectancy in the NFL is three years, maybe 3.5 now.
"I've been blessed to do this a long time. I think it's just seeing my kids growing up, and in the off-season I love getting to spend time with them.
"And then I come here and the football season just has to take up so much of your time.
"Even when you get home, I try my best to turn it off when I walk in the front door. I think I do a pretty good job of that, but it still consumes you in a way.
"Just all those things combined, being healthy, being able to play catch with my kids.
"I feel good mentally, I know this new study that came out that 90 per-cent (of NFL) players' brains who were studied had CTE.
"There's a lot of scary things, and I think my wife would be OK if I hung it up, too.
"But I still love the guys, I still love the game, so it was right for me to come back and give it everything I have this year."
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The regular season of home and away matches run from September to December 2017, culminating in PlayOffs from January 6, 2018 and the Super Bowl on February 4, 2018 at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota to determine the world champion.
