2004 in football

American Football

 * 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
 * February 1 – Super Bowl XXXVIII – New England Patriots 32, Carolina Panthers 29 at Houston, Texas
 * 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 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