ROETHLISBERGER RETIRES AT 39: TIME TO ‘ HANG UP MY CLEATS’

PITTSBURGH Ben Roethlisberger’s NFL career is over. The longtime Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback announced his retirement on Thursday, saying it was “time to clean out my locker, hang up my cleats” after 18 years, two Super Bowls, countless team records and a spot in the Hall of Fame all but secure. The much-anticipated decision came less than two weeks after Pittsburgh’s lopsided loss to Kansas City in the first round of the postseason, the 12th time in Roethlisberger’s career the Steelers reached the playoffs. The Steelers never endured a losing season during Roethlisberger’s tenure and captured two Super Bowls.