How NFL Star Ben Roethlisberger Fought Porn Addiction with Faith

Amid news of Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement, comments the outgoing Steelers quarterback made about his past struggles with alcohol and pornography have resurfaced.

Two summers ago, Roethlisberger, 39, spoke at the ManUp Pittsburgh conference, where he opened up about the personal struggles that defined him for years.

“People don’t realize all the time that we athletes, we’re human,” he said. “We sin like everyone else, and I am no different. We make mistakes, we get addicted to things, we sin — we’re human. And I think sometimes we get to put on this pedestal where we can’t make mistakes; we do.”

“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. But you have to dedicate yourself and understand that you can get out of it because of the grace of God and Him saying, ‘You’re good enough for me the way you are. You don’t have to be perfect.’” the NFL star continued.

Roethlisberger went on to say that all people “fall short,” a reference to Romans 3:23.

Now, he said, he’s “trying to be a better Christian than I am an athlete at football.”

“I push myself every day to do that,” he explained, adding, “It starts here,” placing his hand on his Bible.

The famous athlete, who credits his return to faith to his wife, Ashley Harlan, whom he married in 2011, said he was raised in a Christian home but strayed from his religious roots when he went to college.

Ben Roethlisberger with his wife Ashley Harlan

Credit: faithwire.com