Did any rookie quarterback ever start in a Conference Championship game?

Answer 1

There have been four ...

1) Shaun King of the Buccaneers in the 2000 NFC Championship Game.

2) Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2005 AFC Championship Game.

3) Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2008 AFC Championship Game.

4) Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets in the 2009 AFC Championship Game.

All four lost.

Answer 2

Yes, there have been 4 rookie quarterbacks to start in a Conference Championship game.

The first quarterback was Shaun King (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) in the 2000 NFC Championship, who fell to the St. Louis Rams 6-11 (The Rams went on to win Super Bowl XXXIV against the Tennessee Titans).

Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) made it to the 2005 AFC Championship, and lost 27-41 to the New England Patriots (who went on to win Super Bowl XXXIX against the Philadelphia Eagles).

Joe Flacco (Baltimore Ravens) started in the 2009 AFC Championship, who lost to Ben Roethlisberger's Steelers 14-23 (The Steelers then won Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals).

Mark Sanchez (New York Jets) started in the 2009 AFC Championship game, and fell to the Indianapolis Colts 17-30 (The Colts lost Super Bowl XLIV to the New Orleans Saints).