Ben Roethlisberger's flirtation with retirement this offseason wasn't just talk.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Willie Colon, a teammate of Roethlisberger's for seven seasons, told PFT Live that Roethlisberger was seriously considering retiring before ultimately deciding to play the 2017 season.
"I got to sit down and talk to him and one thing he told me is he did take it seriously," Colon said. "He's dealt with a lot of injuries."
Colon believes that Pittsburgh's offensive line will determine if the quarterback considers retirement again next offseason.
"He's passionate about playing, but one thing that keeps his fire going is that offensive line," Colon said. "You have to worry about the health of Ben Roethlisberger. Can you keep him upright, can he stay healthy for the duration? They have the offensive line, they have the pieces around him to make it work."