PITTSBURGH — Thirteen years ago, Ben Roethlisberger’s eyes were still wide. He’d had a particularly charmed rookie season, earning the job as the Steelers starting quarterback after just two games, guiding them to a 15-1 record and the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Even when the season ended with a loss to the Patriots in the 2004 AFC Championship game, he had reason to believe that the road ahead of him would be paved in gold.

But he had veterans in the locker room that knew better.

One of them was defensive back Chad Scott, who had gleaned a fair amount of perspective the seven years he’d spent in the NFL up to that point.

Scott was a former first-round pick like Roethlisberger. He had experienced the highs that came from seasons where he was among the league leaders in interceptions. He had been through the lows of having a torn ACL that cost him the 1998 season. He had been to the AFC championship three times but never any further. But he valued each trip.

After the Steelers lost to the Patriots in that AFC Championship game, he reminded his teammates why.

“He just kind of spoke on, ‘Don’t take this for granted,’ ’’ Roethlisberger recalled. “He talked about how hard it was to get there, all those kinds of things.’’

Roethlisberger heard what Scott was saying, but at 22 years old with an entire football lifetime head of him, it wasn’t necessarily easy to grasp.

The next season, Scott’s seven-year run with the Steelers was over. He signed with the Patriots, but a knee injury limited him to just three games. Meanwhile, Roethlisberger was still riding the wave. The Steelers went 11-5, sliding into the playoffs as a wild card, and Roethlisberger led them on a four-game playoff run that ended with his team hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

Scott’s words still stuck with Roethlisberger, but he couldn’t help thinking, “Maybe it’s not as hard as he talked about.’’

At 34 years old with two Super Bowl rings and nine playoff trips to his name, Roethlisberger can now see things through the same lens as Scott. He’s tasted the ultimate success and the most bitter disappointments. It’s been six years since Roethlisberger and the Steelers have been back to an AFC Championship game.

“As you get older and understand this league and how difficult it is, how good teams are, how bad teams could be good the next year, and vice versa, you definitely appreciate the difficulty in playing this game, playing it for a long time and getting the opportunities to make the playoffs,’’ Roethlisberger said. “Look at teams that haven’t made the playoffs in how many years. I am just so thankful and blessed to be a part of this organization, that has been able to make it to the playoffs, win Super Bowls. I just try to reiterate to the young guys now, just how precious this moment is.’’

The memory of that playoff game against the Patriots as a rookie still sticks out for Roethlisberger. The three interceptions he threw are still a career postseason high.

“They got after me,’’ he said. “They made me make some mistakes. I just realized kind of what it was going to take to get over that hump. Obviously I was blessed to win a Super Bowl the next year, and that helps kind of put that behind you a little bit.’’

The mutual rivalry between the Steelers and Patriots runs deep, but so does the mutual respect between Roethlisberger and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. It was evident in October, when the Steelers faced the Patriots in Week 7.

Roethlisberger was sidelined with a torn meniscus, but made a point to find Brady on the sideline before the game. They hugged, exchanged words, and Roethlisberger asked for a favor.

“I’ve never done it before, but I would love to get a jersey at some point,’’ he told Brady.

Brady said he’d take care of it after the game, and on Wednesday, Roethlisberger confirmed that Brady made it happen.

“I consider him one of, if not the best of all time,’’ Roethlisberger said. “And, um, I did get it.’’

Roethlisberger has been in the NFL for 13 years, with two Super Bowl rings. Brady has won four championships in 17 seasons.

“I think it’s two old guys playing the game for a long time,’’ Roethlisberger said. “I think that’s what a lot of the talk is. He deserves all the credit that he gets. It’s obviously bigger than the two of us. I know he’s used to it. But this is two football teams that have won championships that are going against each other. It’s more than just one man. We’re not playing tennis. We’re going out there to play a football game with 11 guys at a time.’’

But Roethlisberger acknowledges that while he’s had a successful career, it’s not the same as Brady’s.

“Not at that level, obviously, with all the Super Bowls he has,’’ said Roethlisberger.

Without Roethlisberger in the teams’ October meeting, the Steelers struggled to find the end zone, getting their only touchdown on a 14-yard pass from backup quarterback Landry Jones in the 27-16 loss.

But they enter Sunday riding a nine-game winning streak, and even though Roethlisberger is just 2-6 all time against Brady, including the playoff loss, there’s confidence in his ability to change the outcome.

“Ben, he’s an X-factor, period,’’ said Steelers guard Ramon Foster. “To have him in over a guy that’s his backup, I’m going to roll with Ben every single time.’’

Now that he’s back in an AFC title game, his eyes are as wide as they were 13 years ago, but they can see things a little differently.

“It’s because you never know when the next moment is going to happen,’’ Roethlisberger said. “Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. Let’s enjoy this moment and this day, which is why I am enjoying talking to you guys today up here. Because you never know if this opportunity will present itself again. You might as well enjoy it and relish every moment. I’ve been telling these young guys.

“I am going to be the Chad Scott that I got to talk to a long time ago. You don’t know if we will be able to do this again. So enjoy it. Enjoy every moment of it.’’

Julian Benbow can be reached at jbenbow@globe.com.