For nearly three decades, Pittsburgh Steelers lore held that head coach Bill Cowher turned rookie quarterback Kordell Stewart into a multi-positional weapon to spark a stagnant offense. But during an appearance on the “Locked On Steelers Squad Show,” Stewart set the record straight: the birth of "Slash" was entirely his idea.
During the 1995 season, injuries decimated Pittsburgh’s roster. Starting quarterback Neil O’Donnell, Hall of Fame cornerback Rod Woodson, and multiple wide receivers were sidelined. Rather than sitting idly on the bench, Stewart stepped up.
"Neil O'Donnell got hurt, Rod Woodson got hurt, my receiving core got hurt, and I just said, 'Coach, whatever I can do to help,'" Stewart recalled. After catching passes during warmups
to help O’Donnell get loose, O'Donnell asked if Stewart had ever played wide receiver. "I said, 'No.' He said, 'Would you like to?'"
Stewart approached Cowher with a proposition to help the team win, but he extracted two firm promises in return before agreeing to sacrifice his main position.
"The number one thing I asked Coach Cowher, 'Are you going to give me an opportunity to compete to be the quarterback for this football team? And can I still win number 10?' Both answers were yes," added Stewart.
That sacrifice paid immediate dividends. Stewart energized the team on scout team, special teams, and offense, compiling an extraordinary rate of playmaking efficiency.
Stewart recalled how veteran reporter Ed Bouchette noted that out of roughly 30 touches that season, Stewart produced a first down or touchdown on nearly 90% of them. The Steelers rode that momentum all the way to Super Bowl XXX.
"I gave myself to the team because I want to help us win," Stewart reflected. "I enjoyed it, man, because I did it my way."
By taking ownership of his versatility on his own terms, Stewart didn't just help power a Super Bowl run; he created a blueprint for the modern NFL quarterback while cementing an iconic chapter in Pittsburgh sports history.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Kordell Stewart reveals surprising untold origin of 'Slash' role
