Overview
- HBO and NFL Films released Kordell Stewart/ Slash & Burn, which is now streaming on HBO Max and centers on Stewart’s NFL years and the long-running rumor that followed him.
- The film presents Stewart’s account that the false allegation about a park incident began with a local police officer after a 1998 loss and then spread through the city in a pre-search-engine era.
- Players and reporting say the rumor lingered and damaged Stewart’s standing with fans and the team, a period that included him being benched in 1999 before he returned to start again.
- Stewart’s on-field record remains notable: he was a Pro Bowl quarterback who helped lead the Steelers to two AFC Championship games, set a single-season franchise completion percentage mark, and compiled a roughly 48-34 record as a starter.
- Stewart and the filmmakers say the documentary is meant to restore his reputation and prompt public reassessment, with possible effects including renewed appreciation from fans and institutional recognition of his contributions.