Former Steelers QB Emphasized That AFC North Rival Lamar Jackson Reminds Him Of Himself

A player that helped shape the NFL and the game of football today is former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Kordell Stewart. He was one of the few quarterbacks who were considered "scramblers" at the time. During the '90s, most of the quarterbacks were still using the "pocket passer" mentality and would rarely use their legs. You would hardly see players like Kyler Murray or Josh Allen who have running the ball as a primary skill set for their game. This also begs the question if Stewart was in the league today, would his career pan out better?

Players like Stewart helped create guys like Michael Vick. Vick was a four-time Pro Bowler and NFL Comeback Player of the Year. He was one of the most exciting players to watch during the 2000s. He looked to be the future of the NFL until he was caught in the infamous dog-fighting scandal. This scandal made him lose out on a handful of his prime years. But he was given an opportunity with the Philadelphia Eagles to rejuvenate his career.

And that is exactly what he did. He started as a backup under the team's Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb who was one of the big influencers in getting Vick. After the Eagles traded McNabb in 2010, Vick finally got his opportunity as a starter again. He played with the team up until 2014 when he signed with the New York Jets for a year. Then from there, he played one season with the Steelers in 2015.

At the time, the decision upset some fans as they weren't happy with his questionable past. He was given a chance anyways and was a decent backup in his one year with the team. He appeared in five games due to a knee injury from starting quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. During these games, he recorded 371 yards and two touchdowns. He would be replaced by the third-string backup Landry Jones after he suffered an injury himself. This would lead him to the decision to retire. 

A Player That Steelers Fans Know All Too Well

Vick was a generational talent that also helped shape the game today. One of the players that look the closest to his style and flashiness is a player that Steelers fans know all too well, and that is the Baltimore Ravens quarterback, Lamar Jackson. Jackson has become a star in the NFL from winning the league's MVP, to attending multiple Pro Bowls. He is the closest thing we have seen to Vick. Vick would even attest to this comparison.

Recently on the It Needed To Be Said podcast hosted by NFL wide receiver Tyreek Hill, they had the former Steelers quarterback on. While on there, he was asked what quarterback in the league today reminded him of himself. The answer seemed to be obvious to him.

"Lamar definitely. Speed-wise, agility-wise. But I wish I would have slowed my game down to more of a Patrick [Mahomes] or a Jalen [Hurts] or a Josh Allen, that type of control."

Now after being out of the NFL for quite a while, Vick is still trying to keep himself within the game. In 2017, he participated in the American Flag Football League serving as a Captain for Team Vick. In 2018, he took on a role as an offensive coordinator for the short-lived Alliance of American Football. He even served as an honorary captain for the Pro Bowl in 2020. He now works as an analyst for NFL Fox Sunday Kickoff. Although Vick is still hated by many people, his story should be inspiring as to how he has been able to change his life around.

So, what do you think, Steeler Nation? Is Jackson's play style the closest we have seen to Vick's? Let me know in the comments below!

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