The decorated career of Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will always be connected with the Seattle Seahawks, because in his second season in the NFL it was against the Seahawks that Roethlisberger won his first Super Bowl title. But for all the games he has played in 12 seasons in the NFL, Roethlisberger has never played at CenturyLink Field, making Seattle the only NFL city in which the Pro Bowl quarterback has not played in 165 career games. That will change Sunday, however, when the Steelers come to Seattle for the first time since 2003.
"I'm excited," Roethlisberger said on a conference call with the Seattle-area media. "Obviously you hear so much about the 12th Man, you hear about how loud it is, you hear about how awesome the fans are so I'm excited. When you play for a franchise like the Steelers, you're used to seeing a lot of Terrible Towels and a lot of fans and you always want to go to places that have that same reputation. I know the team feeds off of it, and it's always an exciting thing, because it is the NFL and you want to experience what it's like to be around something like that."
Roethlisberger, who like Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson won his first Super Bowl in just his second season, calls that 2005 season, which ended with a Super Bowl XL victory over Seattle, a "whirlwind."
"It's been a long time now," he said. "It's just the whirlwind that was that season. That was my second year in the NFL, so everything was just kind of crazy. Just the whole week leading up to that was just a whirlwind."
Roethlisberger said he heard plenty of comments from Seahawks fans about that game, which included several controversial officiating decisions that went against Seattle, but noted the negativity has slowed down in recent years, especially after the Seahawks won a Super Bowl of their own.
"Early on I did, but I think since they've won their Super Bowl and went back-to-back, I think I haven't heard nearly as much as I did early on," he said.
Both teams have obviously changed drastically since that game, though while the Seahawks have completely turned over their roster since then, the Steelers still have four players from that team—Roethlisberger, tight end Heath Miller, linebacker James Harrison and long snapper Greg Warren. Those players were part of a 10-year reunion celebrating that season, which Roethlisberger joked only showed their age: "That's how you know you're old when they're doing reunions and you're still playing."
The Seahawks and Steelers face off on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023. Kickoff is set for 1:05 p.m. PT. Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the Steelers.
Franco Harris of the Steelers carried for short yardaga in first quarter action Sunday, Dec. 4, 1977 past Seattle Seahawks Bob Lurtsema (70). Harris rushed for more than 100 yards for the twenty-eight time in his career, only two other players have done it more often. Harris also went over the 1000 yard mark for the year. (AP Photo)
Steelers Franco Harris (32) gets past Seahawks Bill Gregory (77) for Pittsburgh's third touchdown of the game, Sept. 11, 1978. The Steelers won the game in Pittsburgh, 21-10. (AP Photo/R.C. Greenawalt)
Steve Largent of the Seattle Seahawks runs with the ball during game action against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Nov. 8, 1981. (AP Photo)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Franco Harris (32) is tackled for no gain by Seattle Seahawk conerback Keith Simpson (42) in the first quarter of their National Football League game in the Seattle Kingdome, Nov. 28, 1982. (AP Photo/Gary Stewart)
Franco Harris (32) of the Pittsburgh Steelers slides into the end zone for six points after being hits by Kenny Easley (45) and Kerry Justin of the Seattle Seahawks in the first quarter of their game in Seattle, Wash., Oct. 23, 1983. Harris went nine yards for the score. (AP Photo/Barry Sweet)
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Brian Bosworth (55) sets for play during a 13-9 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 6, 1987 at The Kingdome in Seattle, Washington. (AP Photo / Al Messerschmidt)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Rick Mirer (3) is sacked for a seven-yard-loss by Kevin Henry (76) of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter of their NFL game in Seattle, Wash., Sunday, Dec. 26, 1993. (AP Photos/Gary Stewart)
Pittsburgh Steelers offensive center Dermontti Dawson (63) looks up from the field with his helmet up during a NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks on September 25, 1994 in Seattle. The Seahawks won the game 30-13. (AP Photo/Paul Jasienski)
Seattle Seahawks punt returner Charlie Rogers (31) evades Pittsburgh Steelers' John Fiala as he runs the Josh Miller punt back for a touchdown in the first quarter in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Sept. 26, 1999. Steelers Dewayne Washington (20) Orpheus Roye, (71) Kevin Henry (76) and Carlos Emmons (51) watch from the sidelines. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Seattle Seahawks' Shaun Alexander celebrates as he runs off the field after the 23-16 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Seattle Sunday Nov. 2, 2003. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
Seattle Seahawks' Isaiah Kacyvenski, left, and J.P. Darche (52) bring down Pittsburgh Steelers' Antwaan Randle El during a punt return as Seahawks' Orlando Huff (57) comes in on the play in the fourth quarter Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, in Seattle. The Seahawks won, 23-16. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens (86) catches a pass in the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter of the Super Bowl XL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis (36) is tackled during the third quarter of play against the Seattle Seahawks at the Super Bowl XL football game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger dives in for a one-yard touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter of play at the Super Bowl XL football game, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Pittsburgh Steelers line backer James Farrior (51) tackles Seattle Seahawks tight end Marcus Pollard (88) as Ryan Clark (25) runs at the football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
