In 2004, the Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback, Tommy Maddox, was injured and replaced by untested rookie Ben Roethlisberger. The replacement never relinquished the job during an 18-year career in Pittsburgh that will land him in the NFL Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
In his first season as the Steelers starter, Roethlisberger led his team to 15 consecutive wins until he ran into a juggernaut in the AFC Championship Game led by another quarterback that got his start while replacing an injured starter. Roethlisberger’s only loss in his rookie season was to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the last leg before playing in the Super Bowl.
Brady had become the Patriots starter three years earlier when Drew Bledsoe was knocked out of a game against the New York Jets. Brady held the starting role in New England for nearly all of Bill Belichick’s seasons as head coach. When he met Roethlisberger in the 2024 playoffs, he was the reigning Super Bowl Champion and would capture his third of seven rings two weeks later with a win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
History, history, history. How does that make a difference this week when the National Football League kicks off their 2025 postseason?
Well, we have a parallel to the sterling careers of Brady and Roethlisberger who got starting roles after the quarterback in front of them on the depth chart was injured.
In 2022, rookie first round draft choice Trey Lance started the season at quarterback for the 49ers but broke his foot in a second week game. Eleven weeks later, Jimmy Garoppolo, who followed Lance into the starting role and led the 49ers to a position to earn a playoff spot, was injured in a December game against the Miami Dolphins.