HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. -- I was in the locker room with Maurkice Pouncey in Arlington, Texas, 10 years ago after we lost to the Packers in Super Bowl XLV, and I can tell you there were no tears in the man’s eyes.
We were together for other tough losses through the past decade, and while there was disappointment and dejection in coming up short of a title, there was no signs of the raw emotion we witnessed Sunday night after the Steelers’ 48-37 season-ending loss to the Browns at Heinz Field.
By now, we’ve all seen the images and maybe heard some of the dialogue between Maurkice and Ben Roethlisberger captured by NFL Films after the game. Those tears in the eyes of a nine-time Pro Bowl center had nothing to do with losing to Cleveland. They had everything to do with two lions in winter facing their own mortality in terms of their playing careers.
Man, it was a poignant moment, and it hit me hard as someone who just made the decision to retire last season.
Raw emotion from Big Ben and Pouncey after a decade running the offense together.@Steelers pic.twitter.com/mfnNR9qoSZ
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) January 11, 2021
My first thought as I saw Ben and Maurkice sitting on the bench deep in conversation was “one of them is probably done and it’s probably Maurkice.” I slept on it and decided to reach out to him by text message on Monday night.
Here’s what I can tell you: Maurkice told me he’s “50-50” on whether to return for an 11th season. He’s on the fence, and there’s a number of factors involved.
Let’s start with his health. Maurkice is a warrior. He’s played through his share of pain over the years. Don’t forget he missed the entire 2015 season due to a broken fibula and required a second surgery to deal with an infection. He’s kept coming back for more because of his dedication to the team. There’s no question in my mind Maurkice, a member of the Hall of Fame's All-Decade Team, can still play at a high level for several more seasons if he chooses.
The only thing missing from a glittering resume is a Super Bowl ring. The Steelers' salary-cap issues are well documented. Does he believe the team can be retooled in the offseason and still compete for a title? We won’t know the answers to that question until at least after free agency begins.
One of his best friends on the team, left tackle Alejandro Villanueva, is a pending free agent who's likely to be on the move. There’s also his enduring friendship with Ben. Assuming Ben returns, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him reach out to his center and inquire about one more run at the playoffs.
Family weighs into every major life decision, and Maurkice has several to consider. His twin brother and fellow Pro Bowl center Mike Pouncey is coming off season-ending hip surgery in September. The 31-year-old Chargers’ offensive lineman might choose to retire. Maurkice and Mike have been offseason workout partners forever. Would Maurkice want to climb the mountain again and get his body ready without his brother at his side in the spring and summer? Maurkice also has two young daughters, Jayda and Marley, who he adores. He didn’t get to spend as much time with them this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, and the family members living apart during the season.
What I’m trying to tell you is Maurkice has a lot on his mind right now.
I want to share something else about my friend and former teammate. He loves football, a game he’s played since age 5. He’s not an athlete who plays football. Maurkice is a football player. It’s what he knows. It’s his all-consuming passion. Every game day during the season, Maurkice wakes up and calls his mother. They speak about the excitement and anticipation of the game.
Will Maurkice be able to walk away from the joy the game gives him if he still thinks he has something to offer it?
Among Mike Tomlin’s biggest compliments is saying one of his guys is “a better worker than he is a player.” When you combine Maurkice’s work ethic, knowledge of the game and natural ability, you have a special player. He would be a huge loss for the Steelers should he opt for retirement.
I told him he can’t make a bad decision, but he needs to make the one that’s best for him and his quality of life. We will see what he decides in the coming weeks.
All I know is I won’t forget that image of Maurkice and Ben sitting on the sideline any time soon. The emotion you saw was genuine and it touched a lot of hearts.
“I love that guy,” Ben said of Maurkice after the game. “He is one of the best competitors and teammates I've ever had. It’s just been so much fun to share a football field with him. I hate that it ended the way it did. I just wanted to apologize to him. I wanted to win it for him.”
Maybe Ben still gets that opportunity next season. Either way, Maurkice Pouncey has left every bit of himself on the field, including those tears.
