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‘Magic In That Right Arm’: Ben Roethlisberger’s Rookie Season Highlighted Among NFL’s Best Ever

The 2004 season was a historic one for the Pittsburgh Steelers, largely due to the birth of a legend at the quarterback position.

Of course, the 2004 season was Ben Roethlisberger’s rookie season, a year where the No. 11 overall pick out of Miami (Ohio) stepped into the starting lineup midway through Week 2 due to an injury to Tommy Maddox. He immediately went on a run, helping lead the Steelers to a 15-1 record and an appearance in the AFC Championship Game.

Though he wasn’t asked to do as much as rookie quarterbacks typically are asked to do nowadays, Roethlisberger was forced into a key role quickly due to not only Maddox’s injury in front of him, but Charlie Batch’s preseason injury as well.