Just under 20 years ago, an exciting Sunday afternoon in the Steel City at Heinz Field between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens to open the 2003 season seemed to be the dawning of a new era for the black and gold, thanks to a journeyman quarterback who seemingly captured the hearts and minds of Yinzers everywhere, not to mention the national media.
That quarterback? None other than Tommy Maddox.
On Sept., 7, 2003, Maddox opened the regular season as the starter for the Steelers under head coach Bill Cowher after becoming quite the story late in the 2002 season, taking over for Kordell Stewart then, piloting the Steelers to a 7-3-1 record as the starting QB in Pittsburgh, eventually taking over the team that offseason for good — at least for the time being.