Coach Roethlisberger? Georgia Coach goes viral as Big Ben’s doppelgänger

If you were watching your television at the right time on Saturday evening, you might have thought you missed some big news. Because it sure looked like former Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was in Tuscaloosa as the defensive coordinator of the Georgia Bulldogs.

In tweets and photos making the rounds, Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann said bears a striking resemblance to Roethlisberger which had some Steelers fans doing a double take.

Heck, if you could look past the “G” on his jersey, it appears Roethlisberger has returned to his alma mater Miami (OH) Redhawks, where he played quarterback from 2001-2003. Roethlisberger remains the school’s all-time passing touchdown leader with 84, while he left the school No. 1 in yards but fell to No. 2 a decade later when Zac Dysert passed him.

While rumors have swirled about Roethlisberger’s coaching future since his retirement in 2021, he has consistently refuted the idea. On several occasions he has expressed his desire to be nothing more than his son’s PeeWee League coach. After nearly two decades in the NFL, he enjoys spending time with his family, hunting and producing his Footbahlin podcast, which has grown to nearly 90,000 followers.

“I don’t see it anytime soon just because I enjoy what I’m doing right now,” Roethlisberger told fellow former QB Bruce Gradkowski in February. “I enjoy being with the family. I like being able to take my son to play golf wherever he wants, or go hunting or do whatever. And so I don’t see anything in that area in the near future at least. I mean, I helped coach his fifth grade football team this year, so little things like that, but no more than nothing, I guess.

Schumann may look good, but he has a very different career path than Roethlisberger. He played football for Alabama and graduated in 2013. He served as a coach and staff member until he was hired by Georgia in 2016. He was promoted to defensive coordinator of the Bulldogs in 2022, with a top-five scoring defense in his first two seasons at the helm.

Considering Georgia’s struggles in this game, giving up 41 against Alabama, including a backbreaking 75-yard touchdown on one play after the Bulldogs stormed back from 28-0 to a 34-33 lead, it might not have been the best night for anyone who thought Roethlisberger was coordinating a defense.