2004 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
American football
Super Bowl XXXVIII – the New England Patriots (AFC) won 32–29 over the Carolina Panthers (NFC) Location: Reliant Stadium Attendance: 71,525 MVP: Tom Brady, QB (New England) Sugar Bowl (2003 season): The Louisiana State Tigers won 21–14 over the Oklahoma Sooners to win the BCS National Championship Rose Bowl (2003 season): The Southern California Trojans won 28–14 over the Michigan Wolverines to win the AP Poll national championship August 8 – John Elway, Barry Sanders, Carl Eller and Bob Brown are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame September 19 – Jerry Rice's record of 274 consecutive games with a pass reception comes to an end, although his Oakland Raiders defeat the Buffalo Bills, 13–10. September 26 – After Pittsburgh Steelers journeyman quarterback Tommy Maddox suffered an elbow injury during the 2nd game of the season, rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the 11th pick in the 2004 NFL Draft made his first professional start in a Week 3 game vs the Miami Dolphins, a 13–3 win for the Steelers. Roethlisberger would start the remainder of the season and went 13-0 as a starter, the best start for a rookie quarterback since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. The Steelers' impressive run would come to an end when they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots 27–41 in the AFC Championship Game. This season marked the beginning of a new era for the Steelers, as Roethlisberger would lead them to 3 Super Bowl appearances, winning 2 of them. The Steelers also haven't had a losing record since this season as of 2020. September 27 – Morten Andersen appears in his 341st NFL game, breaking the record set by George Blanda. December 26 – Peyton Manning threw his 49th touchdown pass of the season in a game against the San Diego Chargers breaking Dan Marino's single season touchdown record
Association football
February 14 – Tunisia beat Morocco 2–1 to clinch the first African Cup of Nations in the country's history. May 15 – Arsenal complete their last game of the Premier League season with a victory, becoming the first team to go unbeaten for a whole season in the top division of English football since Preston North End in 1889. May 26 – Porto defeat AS Monaco 3–0 in the UEFA Champions League Final in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. April 28 – San Marino record their first international victory, defeating Liechtenstein 1–0. July 4 – Greece surprisingly win the UEFA Euro 2004 football tournament, defeating the host nation Portugal 1–0. July 25 – Brazil win the Copa América football tournament, defeating Argentina 4–2 on penalties. August 7 – Japan win the 2004 Asian Cup football tournament, defeating China 3–1. August 26 – United States win the Olympic women's football tournament, defeating Brazil 2–1 in extra time. August 28 – Argentina win the Olympic men's football tournament, defeating Paraguay 1–0. September 20 – death of Brian Clough, 69, English manager who won successive European Cups in 1979 and 1980 as manager of Nottingham Forest October 27 – death of Serginho, 30, Brazilian player who suffered a fatal heart attack during a Campeonato Brasileiro match December 17 – Boca Juniors defeats Bolívar 2–1 on aggregate to win the Copa Sudamericana final in Buenos Aires
Athletics
August – Athletics at the 2004 Summer Olympics held at Athens
Australian rules football
Australian Football League
Port Adelaide wins the 108th AFL premiership (Port Adelaide 17.11 (113) d Brisbane Lions 10.13 (73)) Brownlow Medal awarded to Chris Judd (West Coast Eagles) See also 2004 AFL season