Kordell Stewart is looking back at his incredible NFL journey, and he’s openly wondering if his path to becoming a starting quarterback with the Steelers ultimately cost him a Hall of Fame career as a wide receiver. Stewart achieved his dream of leading an NFL team from under center, even guiding the Steelers to AFC Championship game appearances in both 1997 and 2001. But the question lingers: did his versatility keep him out of Canton?
The Birth of “Slash” and Immediate Impact
The seeds of this debate were sown early in Stewart’s career. A star quarterback at Colorado, Stewart was laser-focused on competing for a starting QB job when he entered the NFL in 1995. However, during NFL Combine interviews, he shrewdly told teams, including the Steelers, that he’d be willing to play other positions. He knew that could boost his draft stock, and it worked. Pittsburgh snagged him with the 60th overall pick. It didn’t take long for then-Steelers coach Bill Cowher to take Stewart up on that offer. Stewart was already shining as a receiver in practice when Cowher floated the idea of him playing other positions temporarily. Stewart agreed, with one key understanding: he’d eventually get his shot at quarterback. When Stewart made his NFL debut midway through his rookie season, Cowher famously listed him as a quarterback/wide receiver and declared, “And I’ll just call you Slash.” The “Slash” era exploded onto the scene, quickly taking Pittsburgh by storm. Stewart was a crucial ingredient in the Steelers’ AFC championship run that season, his emergence coinciding with the team winning eight of their final nine games after a 3-4 start. Opposing defensive coordinators found him an absolute nightmare, never knowing where he’d line up or how he’d impact the game. His first NFL touchdown? It actually came against a Bill Belichick-coached defense. Stewart scored touchdowns in both his quarterback and receiver roles that season, but his impact as a receiver was truly something special. In his very first game, he hauled in a 27-yard pass in an overtime win in Chicago. A week later, he caught a 21-yard pass in a game that helped the Steelers secure their final win in Cleveland before the Browns moved to Baltimore. Then in Cincinnati, he scored his first receiving touchdown, helping the Steelers storm back from a 31-13 deficit to a massive 49-31 come-from-behind victory.
Hall of Fame What If?
Looking back, Stewart isn’t alone in pondering the “what if.” “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,” Stewart recently told CBS Sports. That sentiment speaks volumes. It really makes you think about the trade-offs. His unique, hybrid role defined an era, making him arguably the most electric WR/QB hybrid in modern NFL history. Now, his incredible, one-of-a-kind NFL journey is being chronicled in a new HBO documentary, “Slash & Burn,” which NFL Films is promoting as streaming now. It’s a must-watch for anyone who remembers the thrill of watching “Slash” on the field.
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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