Steelers Sign QB Ben Roethlisberger To A Five-Year, $99M Deal

Update:

Ian Rapoport reports that the Steelers signed QB Ben Roethlisberger to a five-year contract worth $99 million that can escalate to $108 million.

• Albert Breer reports that Roethlisberger gets $65 million over the first three years of the deal (2015-17), which is a record.
• Pittsburgh will pay Roethlisberger a $31 million signing bonus, per Breer.
• According to Jason La Canfora, the contract can max out at $108 million if Big Ben reaches some “challenging incentives.“

• La Canfora reports that Roethlisberger’s deal includes $60.75 million at signing.
• Pittsburgh frees up just over $1 million cap space with this move, according to La Canfora.

Breer mentions that the $60.75 million guaranteed is for injury, and the only part of the $65 million guaranteed that isn’t covered for injury is his 2015 base salary and his April 1 roster bonus. This, of course, means that Roethlisberger will get the entire $65 million guaranteed by finishing out the 2015 season.

Roethlisberger’s average salary of $21.9 million leaves him second to only Aaron Rodgers, who makes $22 million per season.

In regard to guaranteed money at the time of signing, this deal leaves Roethlisberger at the top of the list and just ahead of Drew Brees‘ $60.15 million.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Friday that they’ve agreed to terms with QB Ben Roethlisberger on a new four-year extension.

• This will keep him in Pittsburgh through the 2019 season, when he’ll be 37 years old.

.@_BigBen7 has signed a new 5-year contract. pic.twitter.com/6tRehlI8v8

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) March 13, 2015

Roethlisberger, 32, had one year remaining on his eight-year, $102 million contract that includes $33.2 million guaranteed. He is set to earn a base salary of $11.6 million in 2015, which was a far cry from the type of money less accomplished quarterbacks are making right now.

This season, Roethlisberger threw for a league-leading 4,952 yards while completing 67.1 percent of his passes to go along with 32 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 3 quarterback in the league out of 39 qualifying players.