"I don't know what I'm going to do when I'm done," he said. "I'm hoping that it's not any time soon. But when the time comes, I know No. 1 is to be the best father and husband I can be."

As his family has grown and matured, Roethlisberger has acknowledged "new priorities come into play," in terms of how long he intends to play.

He and his wife Ashley are the parents of son Benjamin Todd Jr. (4), daughter Baylee Marie (3) and son Bodie (1).

"I want to be able to play catch with my kids when I'm older," Roethlisberger said. "I want to be able to go to games. I want to be able to coach them at home and do fun things like that."

He perceives the season ahead, Roethlisberger's 14th with the Steelers, as ripe with possibilities on offense assuming running back Le'Veon Bell eventually signs and wide receiver Martavis Bryant is ultimately fully reinstated from suspension.

"Yes, because we have a great offensive line," Roethlisberger said. "I know Le'Veon's probably the best back in the game, Martavis does what he does, 'A.B." (wide receiver Antonio Brown) is who he is. But we have a line that is as good as any in the business. They're the catalyst to how good we can be, how good we are. With all those pieces including that line, we can be pretty good.

"I think everybody knows that we have a chance to be really good and that as good as one person is, it makes the other guy just as good. Numbers and stats are going to come if we win football games."

Losing to New England in last season's AFC Championship Game was "very frustrating," Roethlisberger said, "because you're so close to the Super Bowl and you know how close you are and it's tough.