Ben Roethlisberger blasted the NFL for what its Christmas Day games have meant for teams’ schedules.
His former Steelers side is set to host the Chiefs on Wednesday, representing the team’s third game in 11 days.
“It’s miserable,” Roethlisberger said on his “Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger” podcast. “… It’s a shame that the league does this. It just shows that it’s all about money and this is a way that they can make more money and figure this thing out because it’s not fair for the players.”
The Steelers lost the Eagles on Dec. 15, then fell to the Ravens this past Saturday.
They’ll return to the field just four days after the Baltimore loss.
“You wanna talk about injuries and making the game safer, changing the kickoff rule and preventing guys on hip-drop tackles, and concussions, and this that and the other, but you’re going to make guys play the most violent game in the world, arguably, three games in [11] days,” Roethlisberger said. “I mean, there’s no time for your body to get healthy and rest.”
Roethlisberger played 18 years with the Steelers and won two Super Bowls before retiring in 2022.
“When you’re going from a Saturday to a Wednesday, your body is not recovering fast enough,” Roethlisberger said. “And now you’re asking these guys to go out and play and beat each other up, and it’s a shame. It’s obviously a money thing for the NFL. And I know I’m gonna be watching, people are gonna be watching, so they’re getting what they want.
“I feel bad for the players. The holidays, you want to be home with your family, too. That’s tough.”
Jerry Jones, the Cowboys’ influential owner, recently suggested the NFL intends to play games on Christmas every year going forward — regardless of what day of the week it falls on.
“Christmas Day is Christmas Day, and it doesn’t wait around for what day it’s on,” Jones said in a radio interview. “We want to be there on Christmas Day. “I would think the future is whatever day it’s on, we’re going to be there on Christmas.”
