When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kordell Stewart in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft in April of 1995, it was highly unlikely that the player they just selected would turn out to be the one who ignited a flame that turned a 3-4 start around and straight to Super Bowl XXX.
When "Slash" Stewart took the reigns as full-time starter in 1997, Stewart produced some the best seasons out of a Steelers starting QB since Terry Bradshaw, but attaining the ultimate goal of a championship was not to be.
The following years were tough on Stewart, as were a lot of fans, as he revealed in a recent piece from the The Players' Tribune. It is an interesting insight into what he went through and worth a read.
In retrospect, Kordell Stewart did not deserve the disdain he was treated with. He really did give it his all and he never quit -- not after losing the starting job in 2002 or when he was nudged to play WR. He never stopped believing in himself. Personally, I know I appreciate that now in a way I could not have imagined in the late 1990s.
He probably did reach the ceiling of his ability as a quarterback, although he still could have been under center for a Super Bowl Champion if his teammates made some plays as well. When the time came for him to leave, he did so like a man with his head held high and truly remained a Steeler – making it a point to officially retire as a Steeler. Hence, Steeler Nation has a short video in recognition of such:
It isn’t easy to be a Steelers quarterback not named Terry Bradshaw or Ben Roethlisberger. And even Bradshaw can attest it was not all sunshine and roses as fans cheered when he was injured on a played and called for Notre Dame favorite, Terry Hanratty to take his place.
As far as treatment from the fans, Stewart was hardly alone in what he faced.
Cliff Stoudt was booed without mercy in 1983, and he ran to the USFL as quickly as he could. It did not go unnoticed. The only sellout in the brief history of the Pittsburgh Maulers was when he came to town with the Birmingham Stallions in 1984. They sold “Boo Stoudt” t-shirts and the fans in attendance were vicious as they heckled and pelted Stoudt with snowballs.
Neil O’Donnell did not dare stay in Pittsburgh after Super Bowl XXX. He was spared the worst because he at least got them there, but the way he threw the game, the only ones welcoming him back to Pittsburgh were the bookies.
Tommy Maddox really was beaten hard in his short stint. I’m still convinced he has PTSD after his home was vandalized after his meltdown in 2005 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. He did not attend or join his teammates at the White House and silently vanished.
Mark Malone arguably endured the brutal treatment from fans of any quarterback ever. He was not just booed, he was hated. He was booed when he took the field, when he threw an incomplete pass, and even when he handed it off. It was so bad, the team stopped introducing the offense for home games. He was even booed when his wife was having surgery to remove a potential cancerous growth. By 1987, it went so far that it could not come back. Malone was historically that bad and it drove Steeler Nation crazy – literally. A man literally drove his station wagon through an open gate into Three Rivers Stadium, nearly hitting 4 people and ultimately wrecking his car. When the police arrested him, he was on the field kicking imaginary field goals and saying, “He was tired of Malone’s passing.” The man was admitted to a psychiatric facility.
Malone finished dead last in almost every QB metric in 1987, though he was #1 in jokes at his expense:
- To Magic Johnson and Bob Cousy, add Mark Malone to the greatest bounce passers of all time.
- Why was the U.S.S.R. afraid of Mark Malone? He was the only one who could overthrow the Soviet Union.
None of these guys have made any spectacle out of what they endured, though they all had their low points and moments - on and off the football field. But Kordell Stewart above all has embraced his years as Steelers QB more than any former Steelers QB arguably ever. And for that, he’s earned respect and a thank you.
Thoughts or comments--leave them below!
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