Fan Photos/Fan Stories

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January 8, 2012 - Steelers @ Broncos1318 viewsBrian Goodson (center) poses with friends before the game:

"This was my first game to see our Steelers play Denver. Wearing my Big Ben jersey with pride. I ended up buying all three of our tickets for my friends (Jakob on the left and Victoria on the right, me in the middle) and drove from Montana to see them in person. I was so happy to see my hero play and hope he knows he will always be my hero no matter what. Let him know I say 'Hi' and tell him I'll be back to see him play hopefully this upcoming season." -- Brian

July 13th, 2013 - Big Ben in Nashville556 viewsSuni and Ron Keating's daughter, Brittny Dorsett also attended the Garth Brooks Appreciation Party. Brittny is not only the "biggest Garth fans on earth but also a very big Steelers fan!

"I was so excited to attend this event because I absolutely love Garth Brooks and have been singing his songs since I learned to speak! I had no idea my favorite QB in the NFL would be there! Ben was so nice. I'm even more proud now to be a part of Steeler Nation!" -- Brittny

You can see photos of Ben & Ashley with Garth Brooks in Ben's album:

http://bigben7.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=lastup&cat=-84

July, 2013 - Steelers fan heaven at Hells Point3736 views"My friend and I had the pleasure of meeting Ben at one of Virginia Beach's golf courses, Hells Point. The pace of play was a little slow due to a small tournament that was ahead of both of our groups and we crossed paths around the fifth hole. What can I say, It was a huge pleasure meeting with him. My friend Jimmy Banicar and I approached him casually and said we were both big fans and we just wanted to meet him. Ben was not only inviting, but he seemed very appreciative of our approach.

"After a few pictures and a few moments of conversation, I informed him of a few cool places to check out around town including my restaurant Calypso Bar and Grill. As expected he responded with, "Yeah sure. We will try and stop by!". Never did I expect he would take my recommendation and actually fit Calypso into his busy schedule - but he did! The staff and guests all agreed they had the best time being around such a down-to-earth person. Meeting Ben was a great pleasure, not only from being a Steelers fan, but also for the class act that he is! Thank you Ben!" -- Bryan Connolly, VA Beach

The Dixon Family of #7's533 views"Our family has been Steelers fans as long as I can remember. My dad's side of the family is from Tyrone, PA. Its kind of funny to write about this because Ben and I are the same age and we both have sons really close in age too. Maverick was born a Steelers fan because the day after he was born, August 8, 2013, they played their first preseason game. We as the Dixon family try to install the #SteelerNation in our children's head from birth. Again, thank you for posting the pictures. It means a lot!!" -- Bryan, Kayla & Maverick Dixon.

Look kids....546 viewsBig Ben!!!

Photo: Bryan Shield, via Twitter.

A family of Big Ben fans in Kentucky!1132 viewsBryan Hopkins, his lovely wife Ashley and their sons (and future Hall of Fame quarterbacks) 4-year old Luke and 7-year old Christian pose in the jerseys of their favorite Steeler!

Photo submitted by Bryan!

May, 2015 - Bryan & Sara700 viewsThat evening Sara and I had reservations at Linger Longer Steakhouse and as we began our main course we recognized a familiar group being seated about 20 feet from us â€“ it was Ben and a handful of RBs/WRs. We could not believe this was actually happening, and as a lifelong fan I felt like a little kid again. After we finished our dinner (and Benâ€™s table had not yet been served) we knew we had about a minute to do something. So we approached their table and I quickly introduced myself to Ben and thanked him for signing our ball. He could not have been nicer or more sincere in congratulating Sara and I on our wedding and the whole table was great too. After our brief chat we apologized for interrupting their meal and promptly left for our hotel.

I am not sure if we will ever have the opportunity to meet Ben again, but I do know Steeler Nation could not be more proud to have Ben as our leader. We look forward to continuing to support and cheer for our Steelers. Here we go!â€ â€“ Bryan Antic

Photos: Bryan Antic

(click on the image for a larger version)

May, 2015 - Bryan & Sara513 viewsâ€œA year ago my wife, Sara, and I got married at The Ritz Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation in Georgia. During the ceremony our ring bearer used a Pittsburgh Steelers football (signed by our wedding party) to carry our rings down the aisle â€“ as diehard fans we had to incorporate the Steelers in some way.

After planning our return trip to celebrate our one year anniversary I contacted our Ritz Wedding Coordinator, Debbie Southworth, and asked about the possibility of getting Ben to sign our ball. We really did not have high expectations, but I knew Ben spent time here in the spring and has always been great to his fans. As luck would have it Debbie came through and greeted us with the ball (she had found Ben on the golf course and said that he was happy to sign it). Honestly having Benâ€™s autograph on our wedding football just put an exclamation point on our weekend before it even began.

We did not think our anniversary weekend could have gotten better â€“ but it did....

Photos: Bryan Antic

(click on the image for a larger version)

The official snowman of the 2014 Polar Vortex: Big Ben494 viewsEnjoying the snow down in Carolina! -- @Bryans_A_Baller

January 3, 2016 - "Thank you Ben!"673 viewsWe received this email from a Browns fan, after he saw the photo of his son receiving the game ball from Ben on the websiteâ€™s Facebook page -

Ben, first off I would just like to say that was a class act you giving the game ball to a fan.

I am a Cleveland fan and I took my kids to the game yesterday. They are both big Steelers fans!

You made my son, Caden, the happiest fan ever by giving him the game ball! That is something he will never forget.

After we left the game, he said, â€œDad, I didnâ€™t tell him â€˜thank youâ€™ for the ball!â€. I told him I would try to contact you to let you know he loves it and to say thanks.

Also if you could thank Antonio Brown â€“ he signed a jersey for my other son, Chace, before the game yesterday. It was a great day for both of my boys and it was real class for both of them to do that.

I canâ€™t say â€˜thank youâ€™ enough to both of them, and to the Steelers organization â€” and that is coming from a life-long Browns fan.

Once again that was real class, and I appreciate it and I will have to cheer for you guys a little bit now. â€“ Good luck in the playoffs, Jared Clonch.

Photos:

Thatâ€™s Caden receiving the game ball from Ben above & showing off his prized possession below left. Chace is on the right showing off his autographed Antonio Brown jersey!

Thank you Ben!483 viewsâ€œJust wanted to share the photo Ben was sweet enough to take with me over the weekend. I had gone out with family to see my cousinâ€™s band play, and I thought for sure I saw Ben go past us. Awhile later, I was sure it was him. I asked for pic, and he said, â€˜Next time back through!â€™. He was a man of his word. He couldnâ€™t have been nicer, and truly made our night. Please tell him thank you!!â€ â€“ Carla Weaver

Carla, thank you for sharing the photo with us!

Steeler Nation, Italian style458 viewsCarl Stresing and his girlfriend, Jeni Sharp, showing their Steeler pride while on a gondola in Venice!

"I went to Italy during Easter week this year with high school students. I am a history teacher at Greece Athena High School in Rochester, NY. I am in Philly tonight. I traveled 6 hours to meet Ben tomorrow (May 4, 2013). I took other pics with Antonio Brown's shirt in Rome, the Vatican City and Florence." -- Carl Stresing

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Big Ben 7

www.bigben7.com The Official Fan Site