Thirty years after Super Bowl XXX, former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart still wonders what might have been on the NFL's biggest stage.
Appearing on the “Kay Adams Show
” to discuss his new HBO documentary “Slash & Burn,” the former Pro Bowl quarterback reflected on his 1995 rookie season, when his dynamic "Slash" role helped propel Pittsburgh to an AFC Championship and a matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.Asked directly by Adams whether the Steelers would have won Super Bowl XXX if decision-makers had featured him more at quarterback, Stewart did not hesitate.
"Hell yeah,” exclaimed Stewart. “We would have won the Super Bowl when I got in. Hell yeah. We would have won that Super Bowl. But you know, it was a great run and it was special,
man."
During that 1995 campaign, Stewart revolutionized Pittsburgh’s offense as a rookie multi-threat weapon, lining up at wide receiver, running back, and quarterback while capturing the imagination of Steeler Nation. Though Pittsburgh ultimately fell 27–17 to Dallas, Stewart remains proud of the team’s relentless aggressiveness and head coach Bill Cowher’s bold decision-making during the comeback effort.
"And Coach Cowher, you know, just think about it coming out at half. We do that onside kick and Deion [Sanders], it figures, end up recovering it. How gutsy was that by coach Cowher to call that? I think with Bobby April at that time who's our special teams coach and, I mean, we came up short."
While two costly interceptions ultimately doomed Pittsburgh's rally in Tempe, Stewart views that magical 1995 run as the launchpad for his career. The experience proved that Pittsburgh's hybrid offensive package could compete at the highest level, laying the foundation for his eventual transition to full-time starting quarterback.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Kordell Stewart looks back at rookie run to Super Bowl with Steelers
