A two-time Super Bowl champion recently made a shocking confession.
“I’ve been addicted to pornography…”
But then he told a story that left the room speechless.
Ben Roethlisberger is well known for his success on the football field.
As the quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’s lived in the public eye for years.
But he recently opened up about his greatest struggle—and what helped him triumph over it!
The two-time Super Bowl champion recently spoke at a Christian event called “ManUp” and confessed that he had struggled with pornography addiction.
ManUp was a collaboration between Urban Impact, a youth foundation, and several Steelers players.
The event sought to teach over fifteen hundred men from the Pittsburgh area on how to “be godly leaders for their families” and raise awareness to “the devastating impact of fatherlessness among youth today.”
Due to COVID-19, the event was presented online this year, but it was still packed with Scripture, wisdom, and practical advice from men like Roethlisberger!
In his session, the quarterback addressed his addiction to pornography and the impact it had on his family life and spiritual life.
“I’ve fallen as short as anybody,” Roethlisberger admitted. “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.”
Roethlisberger discussed how difficult it is to be in the public eye.
“It’s not always easy,” he said. “People don’t realize all the time that us athletes, we’re human. We sin like everybody else.”
“I am no different. We make mistakes. We get addicted to things. We sin. We’re human. I think sometimes we get put on this pedestal where we can’t make mistakes.”
The quarterback’s openness was a timely reminder that even our heroes can fall.
But Roethlisberger went on to say that these seasons of weakness have led him closer to God—and have made him more dependent than ever on God’s grace.
“You have to dedicate yourself and understand that you can get out of it because of the grace of God,” Roethlisberger said, adding that it’s only by God’s power that he has overcome his addictions.
“[God says,] you know, you’re good enough for me the way you are. You don’t have to be perfect.”
“We all fall short,” the quarterback said, encouraging his audience to seek God’s forgiveness and mercy in their struggles with sin.
“I mean, that’s what happens, but it’s OK, you can get back into the good graces.”
“All you have to do is ask.”
The quarterback grew up in the church, giving his life to Christ in middle school, but walked away from his faith in college when the lure of professional sports, fame, and money became too great.
“I wasn’t as strong of a Christian in college [or the NFL] as I wish I would’ve been,” he admitted. “I never got back to the path of where I wanted to be…until I found my wife.”
When Roethlisberger and his wife married, he decided to pursue Jesus wholeheartedly.
“Jesus is the One that brought me back to Him.”
Roethlisberger has re-affirmed his faith in recent years, even pursuing a second baptism as a way of rededicating his life to Christ.
“I just felt that I needed to do that,” the quarterback said. “I wanted to have a closer walk, a better relationship with Jesus, my wife, my kids, my family—become a better person.”
Now he’s determined to use his platform not for his own fame, but for God’s. He wants to demonstrate to his fans that it’s possible to be a good father, a good husband, and a good football player all at once.
“I want it to be known to all of the young men out there,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s cool to be Christian and be an athlete.”
“Go ahead and be the best athlete you can be and see if you can be a better Christian,” he encouraged his fans.
“And that’s what I’m trying to do now. I’m trying to be a better Christian than I am athlete and football player.”
Roethlisberger concluded by referencing James 1:12: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life…” (NIV)
“Don’t we all go through trials and tribulations?” he asked. “Who do we look to during our trials?”
Praise God that Ben Roethlisberger looks to Him during trials!
Please pray that Roethlisberger will continue to use his platform for the glory of God. He has a powerful message!
