Tension Erupts in Pittsburgh as Legend Ben Roethlisberger Publicly Criticizes GM Omar Khan for “Lack of Decisiveness” in the Trade Market – And His Warning Leaves the Entire Steelers Organization Reflecting

Tension Erupts in Pittsburgh as Legend Ben Roethlisberger Publicly Criticizes GM Omar Khan for “Lack of Decisiveness” in the Trade Market – And His Warning Leaves the Entire Steelers Organization Reflecting.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – November 6, 2025

Tension inside the Pittsburgh Steelers organization has reached a boiling point after franchise legend Ben Roethlisberger, the two-time Super Bowl–winning quarterback, publicly criticized General Manager Omar Khan for what he described as a growing “lack of decisiveness and fading competitive fire” in the front office’s trade market approach.

Speaking on his Footbahlin with Ben podcast, the 43-year-old former quarterback — known for avoiding controversy — stunned fans and media alike with an emotional and deeply reflective statement:

“I wore this uniform when every decision was made with the instinct of a champion — bold, fearless, decisive,” Roethlisberger said, his tone heavy with concern. “But now, I see hesitation creeping in — choices made out of fear instead of conviction. And what worries me most… is that maybe we’ve started to get comfortable with it. In the NFL, the moment you get comfortable with fear, you’ve already lost.”

Roethlisberger’s comments came just days after the November 4 trade deadline, where the Steelers — despite an urgent need for an offensive tackle and a cornerback — made no major moves. According to ESPN, Khan was reportedly “not pleased” by the remarks but chose to remain silent, telling team staff only that “every decision is made with the long-term health of the franchise in mind.”

Inside the locker room, however, Roethlisberger’s words struck a nerve. A veteran player told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

“When Ben speaks, people listen. He’s not trying to stir things up — he’s just saying what a lot of us have been thinking.”

Across social media, Steelers Nation quickly split in opinion. Some fans agreed, saying the team has “lost the edge and aggression that once defined black and gold football,” while others defended Khan, believing he’s “rebuilding with patience and vision.”

“I’m not angry,” Roethlisberger later clarified. “I just don’t want to see this team forget who we are. Pittsburgh used to win because we were fearless, because we believed in ourselves — and I hope we still have the courage to do that again.”

Once again, the voice that once led the Steelers to glory has spoken — not to reminisce about the past, but to rekindle the fire that once made Pittsburgh unstoppable.