Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger opens up about past alcohol and porn addictions
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has opened up about his past addictions to alcohol and pornography.
On Sunday, the football player discussed his addictions while speaking with former Steelers player Tunch Ilkin at a virtual event for Christian men called "ManUp Pittsburgh,” according to ESPN.
“It's not always easy,” the 38-year-old said. “People don't realise 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.
“I've fallen as short as anybody. 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.”
During the event, Roethlisberger also touched on his Christian background, explaining that he grew distant from his faith while attending college at Miami University in Ohio.
The Steelers quarterback, who shares three children with wife Ashley Harlan, has been accused twice of sexual misconduct during his professional career.
In July 2009, a woman filed a civil suit against Roethlisberger and eight employees of the Harrah's hotel in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, alleging that the football player had sexually assaulted her in his hotel room in 2008.
A year later, Roethlisberger was investigated by police regarding an alleged assault at a nightclub in Milledgeville, Georgia, according to ESPN. At the time, the county district attorney said he would not be pursuing criminal charges against Roethlisberger because there was not “enough evidence to prosecute”.
However, Roethlisberger was suspended for six games of the 2010 season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.
According to Roethlisberger, he has since re-embraced his faith, after being baptised again three years ago.
“Now more than ever, it's cool to be a Christian, especially professional athletes,” he said during the event, according to ESPN. “One of the things I want to tell guys and tell people out there, I can be a really good athlete and a Christian. It's not one or the other. I can do both. I want it to be known to all of the young men out there. 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. 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. I push myself every day to do that, and it starts here. It's not always easy.”
