Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart has opened up about whether his choice to play quarterback cost him a potential Hall of Fame career as a wide receiver. Stewart, who helped lead the Steelers to AFC Championship game appearances in 1997 and 2001, recently discussed his unique NFL journey in a new HBO documentary titled "Kordell Stewart: Slash & Burn."
Drafted 60th overall in 1995, Stewart told teams at the NFL Combine he would play other positions to increase his draft stock. The Steelers took him up on the offer, and coach Bill Cowher initially used him as a quarterback/wide receiver hybrid nicknamed "Slash." In his rookie season, Stewart scored touchdowns as a receiver, rusher, and passer, helping Pittsburgh win eight of their final nine games and reach the AFC Championship game. He caught a touchdown in that game, contributing to a 20-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts that sent the Steelers to their first Super Bowl since 1979.
Stewart became the full-time starting quarterback in 1997 and made history by becoming the first player to throw at least 20 touchdowns and rush for at least 10 scores in a single season. He also became the first player with multiple games featuring three touchdown passes and two touchdown runs, a feat later matched only by Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Over six seasons as the starter, Stewart compiled a 48-29 record and won two playoff games, though the Steelers lost two AFC Championship games by a combined seven points to the eventual Super Bowl champions.
Despite his quarterback success, Stewart acknowledges that many in Pittsburgh believe he could have been a Hall of Fame receiver. "Everybody in that city, I'm sure the majority probably said I could have gone to the Hall of Fame if I'd have stayed there," he told CBS Sports. However, Stewart takes pride in his unprecedented transition from playmaking receiver to record-setting quarterback, saying, "I don't think we'll ever have a chance to see that type of player ever again."
The documentary "Kordell Stewart: Slash & Burn" is now streaming on HBO Max, chronicling his career and the persistent rumors that have followed him for decades.
