Carson Palmer became the Cincinnati Bengals’ starting quarterback in 2004. Cincinnati selected Palmer first overall in the 2003 NFL Draft, but he spent his entire rookie season behind veteran Jon Kitna and did not play in a regular-season game. Head coach Marvin Lewis promoted Palmer to the starting role entering the 2004 season.
Palmer made his first NFL start on September 12, 2004, against the Cleveland Browns. He started 13 games that season and passed for 2,897 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. The experience helped establish him as the Bengals’ long-term quarterback and set up a major improvement for the team in 2005.
The wording can sometimes cause confusion because Palmer was drafted in 2003, and that was the year he joined Cincinnati. However, being drafted is different from becoming the team’s starting quarterback. His first season as the Bengals’ designated starter was 2004. Palmer later helped Cincinnati reach the playoffs in 2005, the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 1990.