"Last year, there were some truths to the Niners thing," Roethlisberger told Mark Madden at 105.9 The X, per KNBR. "They were, I think, reaching out maybe just to gauge my interest. I had discussions. I don't want to sit here and say I was going or anything like that. They called me to gauge interest…"
San Francisco was 8-4 at the time and winners of five consecutive games. They appeared to be playoff bound and boasted a defense that was playing much better than earlier in the season.
"I'd be lying if I didn't say there was a small part of me that was intrigued, like, 'Oh man, I could still do it,' and prove to people that I could still play," Roethlisberger continued. "At the end of the day, I just can't see myself in anything other than black and gold.
"Even though they had a great chance, I think, to win a Super Bowl, it would've been hard for me to go try and win a Super Bowl anywhere else but here."
There was a report that Philip Rivers contacted the 49ers around the same time. Although, the retired NFL quarterback later denied that report, stating, "I heard from a couple of teams just kind of checking in," indicating that it may have been San Francisco doing the reaching out.
Things ended up working out well for the 49ers' quarterback situation—at least until the NFC Championship Game. Purdy was a pleasant surprise, winning seven consecutive starts (including the playoffs) before suffering a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC title game.
Purdy is expected to be fully recovered sometime in September. San Francisco added veteran Sam Darnold to a quarterback room that also includes former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance, the most likely candidate to start Week 1 with the end of Purdy's expected recovery time nearing the start of the regular season.
Garoppolo departed the 49ers, signing a three-year free-agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
49ers restore locker room after Seahawks' Super Bowl LX takeover
The San Francisco 49ers locker room at Levi's Stadium looked a little different during Super Bowl LX — and not in a way 49ers players appreciated. Although the Seattle Seahawks were officially designated as the away team, they were assigned the home locker room and even wore... -
49ers' 2025 draft class earns a low grade after one season
The early returns on the San Francisco 49ers' 2025 NFL Draft class are mixed—and according to one analyst, largely underwhelming. Cornerback Upton Stout emerged as the clear standout among the 49ers' rookies. One of San Francisco's third-round selections, Stout logged 593... -
49ers' George Kittle posts one-word reaction after Seahawks hire Brian Fleury
The San Francisco 49ers are losing a key member of head coach Kyle Shanahan's staff to an NFC West rival. On Sunday, it was reported that the Seattle Seahawks are hiring 49ers run game coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Fleury as their new offensive coordinator. He... -
49ers' George Kittle is PFF's top TE — but can he return to form?
When it comes to elite NFL tight ends, George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers still sets the standard. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Kittle was the highest-graded tight end in 2025, earning a stellar 90.7 offensive grade. Even in an injury-shortened campaign, the...