The idea of a Pittsburgh Steelers reunion tour gained some playful traction this week after Ben Roethlisberger teased a potential (albeit unrealistic) NFL comeback—and now, a former teammate is throwing his name into the mix as well.
Roethlisberger’s comments came on the heels of the Steelers’ blockbuster trade for wide receiver DK Metcalf, one of the biggest moves of the offseason. In response to the news, the legendary quarterback jokingly suggested that the revamped offense might be enough to lure him out of retirement.
“DK Metcalf on one side, [George Pickens] on the other,” Roethlisberger said. “[Pat Freiermuth] working the middle … I might still have a couple throws in me.”
It didn’t take long for another former Steelers star—running back Le’Veon Bell—to chime in with his own thoughts on a potential comeback.
“If Ben comes back, on everything I’m sliding too,” Bell posted on X (formerly Twitter) early Monday morning.
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A Steelers Reunion? Not So Fast
While Steelers fans might enjoy the thought of Roethlisberger and Bell running it back, reality suggests that neither move is even remotely on the table.
Roethlisberger, now 42 years old, retired after the 2021 season and has since moved into broadcasting and podcasting. Meanwhile, Bell—who hasn’t played in an NFL game since 2021—has pivoted his focus toward boxing and other off-field ventures.
Even if Bell were to attempt a return to Pittsburgh, he would likely have some fences to mend first. His departure from the Steelers was infamously contentious, as he chose to sit out the entire 2018 season rather than play under the franchise tag. He eventually signed with the New York Jets in 2019, but his career never regained the momentum he once had in Pittsburgh.
A Nostalgic, but Unrealistic, Thought
While the idea of a Steelers reunion with their former stars is fun to imagine, the team is clearly looking toward the future, not the past. With Russell Wilson (or possibly Justin Fields) at quarterback, a revamped receiving corps, and Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in the backfield, Pittsburgh is focused on building a contender for 2025 and beyond.
Still, for fans of the “Killer B’s” era—Roethlisberger, Bell, and Antonio Brown—the idea of seeing Big Ben tossing passes to Bell one last time is a fun trip down memory lane. But in reality, the Steelers are unlikely to turn back the clock anytime soon.