Who was 14-0 as the Pittsburgh starting quarterback in 2004?

Ben Roethlisberger was 14-0 as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback in 2004. The rookie took over after veteran Tommy Maddox was injured early in the season and immediately helped transform Pittsburgh into one of the NFL’s strongest teams.

Roethlisberger’s unbeaten regular-season run became one of the most memorable rookie achievements in NFL history. The Steelers finished 15-1 overall, with Maddox starting the opener and Roethlisberger leading the team through its remarkable winning streak. He completed 196 of 295 passes for 2,621 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

The 14-0 figure is sometimes described differently in statistical summaries. Official season totals commonly list Roethlisberger with 14 appearances and 13 official starts, while historical accounts refer to his 14-0 run as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback. The distinction comes from a game in which he entered after an injury-related change and from differing ways of counting starts.

Roethlisberger’s first season ended with a playoff loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, giving him a 14-1 record as a starter when postseason games are included. He later spent his entire 18-season NFL career with Pittsburgh.