Kordell Stewart wants his NFL career remembered for what he did on the field, not for a nasty, baseless rumor that nearly derailed everything. That’s the powerful, raw truth coming out in HBO’s new documentary, “Kordell Stewart/Slash & Burn,” which is finally putting his incredible on-field journey front and center. For real fans who remember him, “Slash” was an electrifying player, a Pro Bowl quarterback who led the Pittsburgh Steelers to two AFC Championship games in the late 90s and early 2000s. And frankly, that’s exactly how he deserves to be seen.
The “Slash” Era and What Was Really Happening
Stewart told CBS Sports recently that he just wanted people to “appreciate my experience of being a Steeler in Pittsburgh,” to “identify it for what it really was.” And honestly, what it was, was special. Think about a guy who could play quarterback, receiver, running back, and even punt for two seasons. That’s wild versatility right there! Then he went on to six seasons as Pittsburgh’s starting QB. He had his ups, he had his downs, but the man never complained, never blamed. All he did was work. He called it “arguably one of the best runs” he could think of, doing so much that was different on the football field. And you know what? He’s not wrong.
Fighting Back From an Unfair Hit
But beneath all that on-field magic, there was this toxic fiction, an unfounded rumor about “lewd activity” with another male. It was started by a local police officer, and it dropped just two days after a brutal loss in 1998 where a fan hit him with beer and yelled a racial slur as he left the field. Can you even imagine? That rumor, without any merit, hung over Stewart and the Steelers, who stumbled to a 7-9 season. Things got worse before they got better, too. He got benched in ’99, even briefly going back to his “Slash” role. He started the 2000 season on the bench again, with the team at a brutal 0-3. But then, Stewart got the starting job back and, man, did he turn it around. Pittsburgh went 9-4 with him at the helm, and he was the last quarterback that season to beat the Ravens’ historically dominant defense. That’s grit. That’s a true leader.
Stewart and his crew carried that momentum right into 2001, piloting the Steelers to a ridiculous 13-3 record, their best since 1978. He broke a franchise record for single-season completion percentage, got named to the Pro Bowl, finished fourth in league MVP voting, and was even named the Steelers’ MVP. They dethroned the Ravens in the AFC divisional round before losing a tough one at home to the Patriots in the AFC Championship. (And yeah, those Patriots were later punished for stealing signals, including Pittsburgh’s. Just sayin’.) The loss hurt, but that season was nothing short of legendary for Stewart and that squad.
So, if you want to remember Kordell Stewart for the electric “Slash” and the Pro Bowl quarterback who battled his way back, make sure you check out “Kordell Stewart/Slash & Burn” on HBO. It’s time his real story, the one about the work and the wins, gets told loud and clear.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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