2004 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Offseason

Free agent-wise, the Steelers would sign former Philadelphia Eagles running back Duce Staley. Many thought this signing was the team preparing for a future without Jerome Bettis. However, Staley's injury-prone history from Philly would continue with the Steelers. On the undrafted front, the team signed North Carolina running back Willie Parker. Although Parker would play sparingly his rookie season, he would become a major component of the offense in the future. The team also signed veteran punter Chris Gardocki (releasing longtime punter Josh Miller in the process), who up to that point was best remembered by Steelers fans for flipping head coach Bill Cowher the finger twice on live TV after being leveled by Joey Porter while Gardocki was with the Cleveland Browns. (Porter would be penalized for roughing the punter.) Gardocki was fined $5,000 for the incident, and his signing by the team made him the only player to have played for Cowher and give him an expletive in public.

The most notable releases made in the offseason included releasing veteran defensive players Jason Gildon and Dewayne Washington, who both would subsequently sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars and would both play against the Steelers in Week 13.

In the personnel department, the Steelers went back to the future with the return of "Mean Joe" Greene and Dick LeBeau to the organization. Greene, who along with the entire Arizona Cardinals coaching staff was fired after the dismissal of head coach Dave McGinnis, retired from coaching and returned to the Black & Gold as the "special assistant of player personnel" for the team. Meanwhile, LeBeau, who popularized the zone blitz defensive schemes as the team's defensive coordinator in the mid-1990s (referred to as "Blitzburgh" by fans), returned to the team in that same capacity after a brief stint with the Buffalo Bills, replacing the fired Tim Lewis.

This would also be the final season for longtime Steelers radio color commentator Myron Cope, who missed several games this year due to poor health. It was one of only two times in 35 years that Cope would miss time broadcasting for the Steelers, the other being the 1994 season after the death of his wife. Though Cope would later recover, he felt that it was best to retire, and did so at the end of the season.

NFL draft

The Steelers went into the NFL draft with the eleventh overall pick, their highest selection since selecting Plaxico Burress eighth overall in 2000. Although the team was ready to select Miami University quarterback Ben Roethlisberger if he were to still be available, the team was ready to select other players at "need" positions. However, with Roethlisberger still available, the team snatched him up, making him the third quarterback selected. Alongside Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and J. P. Losman, Roethlisberger was part of the "Class of 2004" quarterbacks. In addition, "Big Ben" became the first quarterback the Steelers selected with their first-round pick since they selected Mark Malone in 1980.

Undrafted free agents

Personnel

• Chairman – Daniel M. Rooney

• President – Arthur J. Rooney II

• Vice president – John R. McGinley

• Vice president – Arthur J. Rooney, Jr.

• Administration advisor – Chuck Noll

• Director of business – Mark Hart

• Business accounting coordinator – Jim Ellenberger

• Human relations/office coordinator – Geraldine Glenn

• Business operations coordinator – Omar Khan

• Accounting manager – Jodie Spagnolli

• Communications coordinator – Ron Wahl

• Public relations/media manager – David Lockett

• Information technology administrator – Scott Phelps

• Football operations

• Director of football operations – Kevin Colbert

• College scouting coordinator – Ron Hughes

• Pro scouting coordinator – Doug Whaley

• Special assistant/pro and college personnel – Joe Greene

• Pro/college scout – Phil Kreidler

• College scout – Mark Gorscak

• College scout – Bob Lane

• College scout – Bruce McNorton

• College scout – Dan Rooney

• College scout – Bill Nunn

• BLESTO Scout – Kelvin Fisher

• Marketing

• Director of marketing – Tony Quatrini

• Marketing coordinator – Rick Giugliano

• Client services administrator – Amy Regan

• Marketing manager – John Wodarek

• Producer/broadcasting manager – Rick Fairbend

• Broadcasting assistant – Pete Gergely

• Marketing/community relations manager – Lynne Molyneaux

• Marketing assistant – John Simpson

• Marketing assistant – Mike Marchinsky

• Ticket operations

• Ticket manager – Ben Lentz

• Season ticket assistant – Libby Patcher

• Head coach – Bill Cowher

• Assistant head coach/offensive line – Russ Grimm

• Offensive coordinator – Ken Whisenhunt

• Quarterbacks – Mark Whipple

• Running backs – Dick Hoak

• Wide receivers – Bruce Arians

• Tight ends – James Daniel

• Offensive assistant – Matt Raich

• Defensive coordinator – Dick LeBeau

• Defensive line – John Mitchell

• Linebackers – Keith Butler

• Defensive backs – Darren Perry

• Assistant defensive backs – Ray Horton

• Defensive assistant – Lou Spanos

• Special teams – Kevin Spencer

• Conditioning coach – Chet Fuhrman

• Medical staff

• Physician, orthopedic – Dr. James P. Bradley

• Ophthalmologist – Dr. Francis Mah

• Neurological surgery consultant – Dr. Joseph Maroon

• Physician, M.D. – Dr. Richard Rydze

• Physician, consultant – Dr. Abraham J. Twerski

• Physician, M.D. – Dr. Anthony P. Yates

• Training staff

• Head athletic trainer – John Norwig

• Assistant athletic trainer – Ryan Grove

• Assistant athletic trainer – Ariko Iso

• Football staff

• Player development – Raymond Jackson

• Equipment manager - Rodgers Freyvogel

• Field manager – Rich Baker

• Field/equipment assistant – Kalvin Jones

• Video coordinator – Bob McCartney

• Video assistant – Andy Lizanich

• Video assistant – Rob Brakel

• Photographer – Mike Fabus Notable additions include Ben Roethlisberger and Willie Parker.

Roster

Preseason

Schedule

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Oakland Raiders

It was the 22nd lifetime meeting between the two clubs. The Raiders erased a 21-13 Steelers lead in the fourth quarter but Jeff Reed connected on the winning field goal with seven seconds left. With the win, the Steelers started their season 1–0 for the 2nd straight year. Jerome Bettis scored 18 points (3 Touchdowns) on 5 carries, yet gained only 1 yard total for an average of 0.2 yards per carry.

Week 2: at Baltimore Ravens

With the loss, the Steelers fell to 1–1 for the 2nd straight year. 0–1 in division games and 1–1 in conference games.

Week 3: at Miami Dolphins

The game was originally to be played at 1:00 pm, but was delayed until evening due to Hurricane Jeanne. The game was not broadcast on CBS nationally, it was only shown on local stations in the primary and secondary markets of the two teams as well as on NFL Sunday Ticket. The halftime and in-game updates were produced by ESPN. With the win, the Steelers improved to 2–1. The contest marked Ben Roethlisberger's first NFL start and victory.

Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

With the win the Steelers improved to 3–1. 1–1 in division games.

Week 5: vs. Cleveland Browns

With their 2nd straight win over the Browns, the Steelers improved to 4–1.

Week 6: at Dallas Cowboys

• Source: ESPN

It was the 29th meeting between the two clubs. The Cowboys jumped to a 20–10 lead following a Keyshawn Johnson touchdown catch in the third, but Ben Roethlisberger led two touchdown drives, the last a Jerome Bettis run with thirty seconds to go. The Cowboys raced to the Steelers 30 but a last-second touchdown attempt was swatted away by Russell Stuvaints. With the win, the Steelers went on their bye week 5–1.

Week 8: vs. New England Patriots

This was the game that ended New England's NFL-record 21-game winning streak. Following an Adam Vinatieri field goal in the first quarter, the Steelers erupted, as Ben Roethlisberger twice hit Plaxico Burress for touchdowns and a Tom Brady interception was run back by Deshea Townsend for a touchdown and a 21–3 Steelers lead after one quarter. Brady was picked off twice and Roethlisberger made no mistakes in throwing for 196 yards and amassing a quarterback rating of 126.4. The Steelers routed the Patriots 34–20 and wound up winning the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs as a result. With the win, the Steelers improved to 6–1.

Week 9: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

• Source: ESPN

The Steelers for the 2nd week in a row face an undefeated team, the 7–0 Eagles. With the win, the Steelers improved to 7–1 while the Eagles dropped to 7–1. The game gained wider notoriety in subsequent days following broadcast of footage from the Eagles sideline where Terrell Owens was angrily barking at Donovan McNabb with McNabb striving to ignore him.

Week 10: at Cleveland Browns

With their 3rd straight win over the Browns, the Steelers improved to 8–1.

Week 11: at Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals clawed to a 14–10 lead on two Carson Palmer touchdowns, but Roethlisberger, despite being sacked seven times, tossed a touchdown late in the third quarter to Dan Kreider, then late in the fourth Palmer dropped back to his own endzone and threw an incompletion; it was ruled intentional grounding and the resulting Pittsburgh safety finished off the game.

Week 12: vs. Washington Redskins

With the win the Steelers improved to 10–1 and went 3–0 against the NFC East.

Week 13: at Jacksonville Jaguars

For the first time Jerome Bettis was not the all-time active rushing leader in the NFL upon kickoff, as he and Curtis Martin dueled throughout the season for the title, Bettis would retake the title by game's end.

Week 14: vs. New York Jets

In an NFL first, both running backs came into the game ready to break the 13,000 career yards mark, Jerome Bettis having a 6-yard lead over native Curtis Martin. After the game Martin would lead Bettis by 9 yards.

Week 15: at New York Giants

• Source: ESPN

This was the first meeting between rookie quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning and was part of a rare NFL Saturday triple-header. The game lead tied or changed seven times as Manning and Roethlisberger combined for 498 passing yards; Antwaan Randle El also got into the act with a ten-yard touchdown throw to Verron Haynes, this atop 149 receiving yards. Jerome Bettis rushed 36 times for 140 yards and the winning touchdown in the final five minutes. With 3:31 to go Eli was intercepted by Willie J. Williams. Giants coach Tom Coughlin challenged the ruling but after review it was upheld, and the Steelers ran out the clock for the 33–30 win.

Week 16: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Jerome Bettis retook the all-time active rushing record from his season-long duel with native Curtis Martin by a margin of 81 yards, and also pass Eric Dickerson for fourth all-time.

The win also helped the team improve to 14–1. This would tie the team's franchise record in number of wins in a season.

Week 17: at Buffalo Bills

With the win, the Steelers finish with a league-best 15–1 record.

Standings

Division

Conference

Playoffs

Schedule

Game summaries

AFC Divisional: vs. New York Jets

New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers

After a brilliant 15–1 regular season the Steelers pulled one out of the fire in the divisional playoffs against the Jets. Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted at the Jets 14-yard line and Reggie Tongue ran back an 86-yard touchdown in the third quarter. After tying the game at 17 in the fourth the Steelers had to sweat out a Jets drive in the final minutes of regulation. The Jets set up for a Doug Brien 47-yard field goal but the kick missed, hitting the crossbar. On the ensuing possession, Roethlisberger was intercepted again and another Brien field goal was set up, this one from 43 yards away – but it again missed, sailing wide left. In overtime, the Jets won the kick-off but failed to score on their first possession. The Steelers, then, drove down field and Jeff Reed's 33-yard field goal ended a 20–17 Pittsburgh win.

AFC Championship: vs. New England Patriots

New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers

Revenge for their Halloween loss drove the 14–2 Patriots back to Heinz Field and the conference championship. The shaky play of the Steelers against the Jets the week before was exploited by New England as Ben Roethlisberger was intercepted almost right away, then on their next possession the Steelers were stopped on downs. The Patriots raced to a 17–3 lead in the second quarter before Roethlisberger drove them down field and threw a back-breaking interception to Rodney Harrison at the Patriots 13-yard line; Harrison ran back the 87-yard touchdown and fans at Heinz began chanting for Tommy Maddox to come in to replace Roethlisberger. The Steelers managed a pair of third-quarter touchdowns (a 5-yard Jerome Bettis run and a 30-yard Roethlisberger pass to Hines Ward) but these only sandwiched another Patriots score (a 25-yard run by ex-Bengal Corey Dillon) and the Steelers simply could not overcome New England's offense as the Patriots finished off Pittsburgh 41–27, the third playoff win in four career tries by the Patriots over the Steelers.

The game is also significant as the final game by the team's radio broadcaster, Myron Cope. Cope had served as the color commentator on the team's radio broadcast for 35 years. He would publicly announce his retirement five months later.

Honors and awards

• Ben Roethlisberger, AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
• Ben Roethlisberger, Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year

Pro Bowl representatives

See: 2005 Pro Bowl

• No. 36 Jerome Bettis – Running back (alternate)
• No. 43 Troy Polamalu – Strong Safety
• No. 51 James Farrior – Inside linebacker
• No. 55 Joey Porter – Outside linebacker
• No. 64 Jeff Hartings – Center
• No. 66 Alan Faneca – Offensive guard
• No. 77 Marvel Smith – Offensive tackle (alternate)
• No. 86 Hines Ward – Wide receiver
• No. 91 Aaron Smith – Defensive end (alternate)

References

References

1. Wexell, Jim. (2004-08-24). "Steelers looking to bounce back in 2004".
2. Fleming, Todd. (May 17, 2009). "Reflections on the 2004 Steelers: The Year of the Quarterback".
3. ''Pro Football Prospectus 2006'' ({{ISBN. 0761142177), p. 73–75
4. The article mentions [[Neil O'Donnell]], [[Mike Tomczak]], [[Kordell Stewart]], and [[Tommy Maddox]].
5. [[1998 Minnesota Vikings season. 1998 Minnesota Vikings]]
6. [http://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/draft/2004 Football Database]. Retrieved 2014-May-11.
7. "2004 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide".
8. "2004 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide".
9. "2005 Pittsburgh Steelers Media Guide".
10. "2004 Pittsburgh Steelers".
11. Westhead, Rick. (2005-01-03). "Reality of Steelers Puts a Quick End to the Bills' Dream". The New York Times.
12. (June 21, 2005). "Cope also created Terrible Towel". [[ESPN.