Most fans know Ben Roethlisberger as the decorated quarterback who led the Pittsburgh Steelers to two Super Bowl victories and earned six Pro Bowl selections. But beyond the football field, there’s a deeper story—one rooted in values and faith.
Roethlisberger’s foundation in Christianity began early, thanks to his father who instilled in him strong spiritual principles. Despite achieving fame and fortune early in his NFL career, Roethlisberger didn’t actively pursue his faith during that period. It wasn’t until his marriage to Ashley that he rediscovered and committed to a more intentional spiritual path. His decision to get baptized marked a significant turning point in his life. Since then, he has been open about the role of faith in shaping his personal and professional journey.
In one of his public statements, Roethlisberger emphasized the importance of faith among young men, saying, “It’s cool to be Christian and be an athlete. I’m trying to be a better Christian than I am athlete and football player. I push myself every day to do that.” This perspective has influenced many of his life choices, especially after retiring from the NFL.
Recently, Roethlisberger highlighted his involvement with Illuminations, an organization with a bold mission: translating the Bible into every language so that it’s accessible to people across the world. Speaking on his podcast Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger, he described how powerful it was to join a group of like-minded individuals working towards what they call ending “Bible poverty.”
He shared that during one special event, around 150 people came together and raised an astonishing $40 million in support of the project. Roethlisberger praised the experience and expressed admiration for the organization’s co-founders—former NFL kicker Todd Peterson and businessman Mart Green. Both men have long-standing commitments to faith-based missions, especially Bible translation.
Peterson, who once served as interim president and CEO of the Seed Company, joined forces with Green in 2014 when the latter was looking to build a fundraising movement. Their collaboration led to a $21 million contribution from Seed Company partners, catalyzing what has become a global initiative. Peterson once noted that his faith journey has been a gradual transformation—one that molds him more into the image of Christ over time.
Illuminations originally projected it would take 100 years to complete their Bible translation goal. However, with renewed efforts and support, they now aim to provide 95% of the global population access to a full Bible and 99.96% access to the New Testament by 2033. Their expanded vision also includes ensuring that all of the world’s most strategically spoken languages have at least two usable Bible translations.
With Ben Roethlisberger now standing as one of their key advocates, the movement continues to gain momentum. His involvement is not just financial or promotional—it’s personal. Roethlisberger’s post-NFL legacy may very well be defined not by his throws, but by his commitment to spreading the Word of God worldwide.
As the mission progresses, the hope is that this partnership will not only meet but exceed the ambitious 2033 goal. For Roethlisberger, it’s about living the message of Matthew 4:4: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”