Ben Roethlisberger was 'intrigued' by 49ers' pursuit during 2022 season

Pittsburgh Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger retired last winter but allegedly heard from at least one team this past season. 

According to Alan Saunders of Steelers Now, Roethlisberger told Mark Madden of 105.9 The X on Tuesday that he "was in conversations to join the San Francisco 49ers" during the 2022 campaign. 

"They were, I think, reaching out maybe just to gauge my interest," Roethlisberger said about the 49ers. "I had discussions. … I’d be lying if I didn’t say there was a small part of me that was intrigued. I could still do it and prove to people that I could still play. At the end of the day, I just can’t see myself in anything other than black and gold." 

The 2022 49ers lost starting quarterback Trey Lance to a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2. Backup Jimmy Garoppolo won six of nine starts before he went down with a broken foot in Week 13, but rookie Brock Purdy proved to be more than an adequate replacement for both options. Purdy, the final pick of last year's NFL Draft, went a perfect 7-0 through the playoffs until he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during the NFC Championship Game. 

As for Roethlisberger, the future Hall of Famer struggled throughout what became his final season. Per ESPN stats, he ended that campaign ranked 25th overall with a 41.3 adjusted QBR. Across 16 games, Roethlisberger recorded 22 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions. 

After Tom Brady ended a short-lived retirement and returned to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last March, some wondered if Roethlisberger could follow in Brady's footsteps. However, Roethlisberger noted in April he was "pretty content" with his retirement decision. 

"I love waking up in the morning and not having issues with my knees and shoulders and elbows," Roethlisberger told Madden on Tuesday.