Big Ben's Amazing Rookie Season

As requested, here is a version with NO MUSIC and a few added clips. Enjoy these highlights from every regular season start of Ben Roethlisberger's amazing rookie season in 2004.
2004 was a truly SPECIAL season for the Steelers, despite not hoisting a Lombardi at the end. It remains one of my favorite seasons of all time, and other than 1976, the 2004 squad was perhaps the best Steeler team to not win a Super Bowl. It was an incredibly fun year. And central to that fun was the birth of the Ben Roethlisberger era.
Ben elevated the team from the moment he stepped on the field. By his 3rd start, he was taking over games. He very quickly distinguished himself as the best player on offense, and his insertion into the starting lineup almost instantly transformed that team from talented underachiever to heavyweight contender. The young QB wasn't perfect... but he had "Hall of Fame" written all over him right from the start. And the Steelers immediately began winning games with Ben that they would've lost without him.
Throughout his career, it's never been about what Roethlisberger has done "statistically." He's never been a particularly coveted fantasy football player, even in the midst of 5000-yard seasons. That's because fantasy football is 100% stats-based, and stats aren't what make Ben great. It's about what he does in BIG moments, clutch plays that "only" Ben Roethlisberger makes, that winning edge that he brought to the team from the moment he stepped on the field. Ben is largely defined by intangibles. But first and foremost, it's about WINNING. And he's been winning since the start.
This video features highlights from every regular season start of Ben Roethlisberger's amazing "Rookie of the Year" season in 2004. It's a long video (16-1/2 minutes), but I've watched it multiple times and it makes me smile every time.

[@jasonwardy8192]

The last of the great old school QBs. Thank you Ben, for giving us so many Sunday memories. See you in Canton.

[@mcmillenandwife]

Yep. Very sad to see him go. His gold jacket awaits.

[@lambert581]

@@mcmillenandwife I always wondered what would've happened if Tommy Maddox never got injured? I think Ben would've stayed backup in 2004 then starter in 2005

[@TheSteelers4190]

@@lambert581 think eventually they wouldn't have had a choice but to play him

[@mcmillenandwife]

Glad we didn't have to find out,@@lambert581. What a great rookie season Ben had! I agree, it's unlikely he would've seen much action in 2004 without the injury to Maddox. IMO, they finish somewhere between 8-8 and 10-6 without Ben. He elevated that team to a whole new level.

[@lambert581]

@@TheSteelers4190 Well Tommy Maddox was a solid QB

[@anthonynunyabizness9989]

I'm a life long Dallas fan but Big Ben is and always has been my favorite rookie of all time. He was the total package. Personally, I've never seen a player who from their first snap looked like a seasoned vet. But most of all I loved that he played that bloody, schoolyard, in the vacant lot type ball we used to play when we were young.

[@mcmillenandwife]

Great comments. Agreed, he was clearly special from the get-go.

[@lambert581]

@@mcmillenandwife On here years ago a Steeler fan recorded a Cleveland fan watching the 2006 Steelers/Browns game The Browns fan really liked Hines Ward saying he wanted Ward to suffer a broken leg

[@SplinteredChaos]

And he refused to change. It was his style, who he was to his core. Ben always played with everything he had, and it was more than most.

[@toninemeth-r9f]

this video should have more views than this what a video for young qbs to watch what a fantastic QB we had we sure are glad we got Ben in 2004 draft he was great in his rookie year and just kept getting better and better Here We Go Steelers with Big Ben

[@mcmillenandwife]

@@toninemeth-r9f Yes, what a great year! There’s another version of this video with many more views, but it has music. People complained about the music (rightfully so, I was still learning) so I made this version without it.

[@eyeofthescar6890]

I went to the home opener against the Raiders. Bought his jersey and decided to keep it in the plastic until he started his first game. Didn't stay in the plastic very long.

[@zachpisciotta5170]

First years of my life I watched Big Ben loved seeing him play in person🙏🏻

[@debbiegrasse3920]

Ben was the beast on 3rd Down conversions.

[@damianrivers3772]

Man o man did I enjoy watching this. Great job on a great rookie season by our young gunslinger in 04. Good times. Great video.❤

[@mcmillenandwife]

@@damianrivers3772 It was a truly amazing year, wasn’t it? Looking forward to his eventual first ballot Hall of Fame induction.

[@wademcintyre1621]

It's that 36 to 38 years old qbs fall off a mountain and Ben was no exception.

[@KeithFroehlich07]

But Ben had one of his best seasons in 2020. And then his idiot head coach decided to fire his coordinator because he wanted Ben to quit so he could start his pet project Dwayne Haskins. All Haskins proved during his time in Pittsburgh is that he never grew up, and it cost him his life.

[@justinyang6675]

Man Big Ben and Burress was dynamic duos!!!

[@IanPeon]

That Hines Ward block at 9:35 had Dan Dierdorf rolling!

[@mcmillenandwife]

Hines layin’ the lumber! 💪🏻

[@luismagana9784]

Never forget this man’s rookie and sophomore year

[@JohnnyB_1123]

Burress loved those high line drive throws, he snatched them up.

[@heidipatterson5005]

Started out the best ended his career the best...luv luv..so missed😭

[@MikeG82]

looks a million times better than Pickett

[@wademcintyre1621]

Who said big Ben couldn't move and was a statue was nuts. Idk if will ever find a qb as good like him ever again !? Plaxico and Hines were great . I hope Roman Wilson is half as good as Hines Ward ! I wish we would of got Josh Allen he reminds me of Ben so much.

[@TheSteelers4190]

Dude put up some great stats along the way too.

[@Tbird1549]

Great memories! Hope he has one more magical game tomorrow! Thanks!

[@mcmillenandwife]

Agreed! And with a little help from Jacksonville… a little more after that. 😁🤞🏻

[@adriankendrick4281]

Seems like yesterday he was getting his first start in rain soaked Miami. His next stop will be in Canton.

[@TerminalChillness]

Thanks for your Steelers videos, Tim (on your website as well)! We are so grateful you went out of your way to provide all that content!

[@mcmillenandwife]

Glad to do it!

[@sandyaw3057]

After the complete travesty of today’s game, to me it is even worse than living through the 80’s. There will never be another quarterback like Ben.

[@mcmillenandwife]

I was at the Steelers/Cards game today with my son. A debacle. 🤮

[@eyeofthescar6890]

No QB will ever have a better rookie season

[@jasonpattee5151]

6:25 I remember this live. Parcells does too 😂

[@wademcintyre1621]

Maybe Ben's son will be the next qb we ever get any good

[@skivvywaver]

Ben was the missing piece. As soon as I saw him play I knew he was going to be a once in a lifetime player. The Steelers had been through so many mediocre and bad quarterbacks since Bradshaw retired. Malone, Stoudt, Brister, Tomczak, Woodley, Graham, Kitchen Sink... They should have gotten more than 2 superbowls out of Ben.

[@KeithFroehlich07]

Should have been the MVP as a rookie The Steelers were on an 8-12 run in their previous 20 games before Ben went in the huddle, and then proceeded to win 14 straight with Ben If that doesn't signify what the Most Valuable Player Award is what does?

[@ericfg806]

Moar!!

[@sinnichiy.670]

僕はロスリスバーガーにスティーラーズファンにされました。良いとこも悪いとこも、ベンは良かったなぁ

[@adoptedchild8851]

The play at 13:39...? Had to watch it several times. Ben didn't toss it, it was the running back that threw the shuttle pass

[@mcmillenandwife]

Same! I didn’t realize the shovel pass came from Randle El, not Ben. It fooled me as much as it fooled the Giants. 😂

[@adoptedchild8851]

@@mcmillenandwife good eye. I couldn't see who it was

[@mcmillenandwife]

@@adoptedchild8851 I had to go to the stat sheet. That was some serious slight of hand. 😮

[@ednadorishomestylecooking9248]

Remember the truck play at the super bowl against the sea hawks. Keep Mason Rudolph as starter

[@jnice1236]

watching this makes me realize how bad Kenny Pickett is...and i bought his jersey

[@fernandoaraiza2138]

Matt Canada ruined the end of Ben's career.

[@mcmillenandwife]

@@fernandoaraiza2138 I agree 100%. Canada was a hot steaming pile of an OC. Squandered Ben’s final year, and I truly think Ben had a couple more productive years left with a quality OC. Sad the way it happened.

[@biancataylor5896]

0:00 / 13:20

[@swatbwana]

Big Ben was a Quarterback in a tight ends body people forget his 40 time was faster than Mahomes

[@bane1240]

So much magic his rookie year. Saw him play in his Sr yr at Miami (OH) and thought, wow, who is this kid? He’s bigger than all his lineman. As a STEELERS fan, didnt think they would be in position to take a QB the following Spring but they were and I hoped it would be him. Size strength, and the rest is history. I live in Ohio but have been a STEELERS fan for 50yrs. Great to have seen all of Bens career and to have seen him in college. The journey was awesome! See U in Canton in 3 yrs.

[@livetotell100]

Man, do I miss the Steelers of the 2000's.

[@mcmillenandwife]

Agreed. 👍🏻 ‘72-‘79 (obviously), ‘92-‘97 and ‘04-‘10 were amazing eras for Steeler football.

[@MikeG82]

@@mcmillenandwife 2001 was great too, number 1 seed in AFC and 2002 was exciting with Tommy Maddox and that tommy gun offense i would say 2001 - 2010 was a great decade i was so hurt when they lost to the packers, i knew it was the end of an era but i did not anticipate it taking so long to be a contender again, 12 years and only 3 playoff wins

[@mcmillenandwife]

Agreed,@@MikeG82. 2001 & 2002 were fun and radically different seasons.

[@brendanbugala8774]

BIG BEN BAY BAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO STEELERS AND BEAT THEM COLTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@David-dh9fk]

Damn ben had some weapons to throw to.

[@puppethound]

Ben was pretty much Dan Marino with wheels. He was a great player, didn't hurt he came into a team loaded offense with a running game and a really great defense. Also he played in one of the worst divisions, but damn those Ravens- Steelers games were legendary.

[@biancataylor5896]

0:00 / 11:28

[@stephenfitzsimmons8837]

Remember he went 15-1 rookie season. 9-7 the season after that. Did the playoffs as a wildcard team on the road and won the Superbowl. He wasn't a QB in his HS and college career.

[@mcmillenandwife]

Ben did win the Super Bowl as part of a Wildcard team in his second season, but the rest of your info is twisted up. Including the postseason, Ben was 14-1 as a starter his rookie season, and 13-3 his second season (including the Super Bowl). While he didn't play QB until his senior year in high school (due to the coach's son playing QB), he played QB throughout college, starting 3 seasons and setting a couple of NCAA records.