Kordell Stewart: Reclaiming My Story | Mick Unplugged
Episode of Mick Unplugged · October 31, 2026 · 49 min
Former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart tells Mick Hunt about the decades-old Pittsburgh rumor, his silence, faith, his receiver-to-quarterback career, and his HBO documentary.
Summary
Kordell Stewart joined host Mick Hunt to discuss the HBO and NFL Films documentary about his life, which Stewart said gave him his first real chance in 28 years to tell his side of a rumor that began in Pittsburgh in 1998. Stewart traced the rumor to a phone call and barbershop gossip, denied it had any truth, and described how it spread across the city and into schools, where fans who supported him were bullied.
Stewart described relying on prayer and faith to cope while leading a locker room he no longer fully trusted, and he emphasized the difficulty of moving between wide receiver and quarterback, citing statistical milestones and his 2000 season. Hunt offered his view that Stewart was criticized partly because he never made football about himself. Stewart argued that his silence made the most noise and said he does not defend lies, while stressing that he must model grace for the young players he coaches.
Stewart proposed that 100 to 200 fans wear his jersey together and post photos, after which he would return to Pittsburgh to thank them; Hunt pledged to help organize a group at a game, though no date or game was set. Stewart also said he maintains good relations with the Rooney family and the Steelers. The episode closed with a rapid-fire segment covering New Orleans food, his choice of Colorado, his lack of fear of any defender, his music tastes, and his priorities of God, family, and career.
Chapters
- 0:00
Cold open and welcome
Stewart previews his point about silence, and Hunt introduces him as someone who changed his life.
- 0:57
The because: telling his own story
Stewart explains that the HBO and NFL Films documentary let him address events in Pittsburgh he had never spoken about in 28 years.
- 4:39
Origin and spread of the rumor
Stewart recounts how the 1998 rumor started with a phone call and barbershop gossip and spread through Pittsburgh.
- 11:49
Fans who were bullied
Stewart describes the cost to his fans and proposes a jersey photo gathering to thank them.
- 14:40
Trust, faith, and the locker room
Stewart describes putting God in the middle of the situation and navigating teammates' whispers while continuing to play.
- 16:47
Receiver, quarterback, and Slash
Stewart stresses how hard it was to switch between receiver and quarterback and how the documentary captured his story accurately.
- 23:38
Grace and responsibility to kids
Stewart says he must choose his words carefully because the young players he coaches are listening, and Hunt suggests why Stewart was criticized.
- 26:07
When silence becomes the story
Stewart argues his silence made the most noise, says he does not defend lies, and criticizes how the rumor was fed to schoolchildren.
- 32:14
Giving Kordell his flowers
Hunt urges fans to watch Stewart's Colorado and Steelers games and pledges to organize a jersey gathering at a game.
- 35:54
Pride in the documentary
Hunt praises the film and Stewart reflects on his vulnerability, his identity, and the film's production quality.
Linked moment · 39:35Skip to 39:35 using a listen link in the info box.
39:35The Unplugged Five
Rapid-fire questions cover New Orleans food, choosing Colorado, defenders, and music.
- 47:25
God, family, career
Stewart says he would thank God first, recalling losing his mother at 11, and states his priorities of God, family, and career.
Key points
What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart says the documentary was his first real chance to speak about events in Pittsburgh from 28 years earlier.
“28 years since a lot of stuff that transpired in Pittsburgh took place that I never had a chance to really speak”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart recounts that the rumor began in 1998 with a phone call to his home.
“In 1998, when this rumor got started, this started off with a phone call to my house phone”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart denies that the rumor was ever true.
“You know, I'm sorry for those who thought it was true. Like, this never, ever in my life existed. That rumor was just that”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart claims he was the first player to record 20 passing and 10 rushing touchdowns in a season.
“I had 20 touchdowns passing, over 10, over 20, over 10 rushing. That was the first time that ever was done in the history of the game”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart asks fans to gather in his jersey and post a photo so he can return to Pittsburgh to thank them.
“find me 100 to 200 people, that are bold and brash enough to put on a Cordell Stewart jersey, turn backwards, point at the name on the back”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart says he relied on God rather than his own instincts to cope with the rumor.
“That's why I said it wasn't me. I had to put God in the middle of this, bro”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart argues that switching from receiver to quarterback is uniquely difficult and underappreciated.
“Like, do you know how hard it is to go play receiver and then to set your behind up behind center and be a quarterback?”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart praises HBO and NFL Films for portraying his story accurately.
“they were able to capture the moment exactly the way I needed to be captured, bro”
- Mick Hunt
Hunt offers his personal view that Stewart was criticized partly because he was not flashy and never made football about himself.
“I think because Cordell Stewart never made the game of football about Cordell Stewart. People had a problem with that, meaning you were not flashy”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart argues that his silence allowed the rumor to spread further.
“all I had to do was talk and it would quiet down. But because I didn't say a word, it affected so many people”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart says he refuses to defend lies and only responds when his space or family is threatened.
“I don't defend lies. I don't defend anything else other than you get in my space too close or you bother my family”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart objects most to the rumor being spread to children in Pittsburgh schools.
“But the problem I do have is they fed that stuff to those kids”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart says he is not bitter toward Pittsburgh and remains in regular contact with the Rooney family.
“People think I'm mad now, but I go back to Pittsburgh all the time. The Rooney family, Dan Rooney III, he reaches out to me all the time”
- Mick Hunt
Hunt urges viewers to watch Stewart's actual play rather than just his stats.
“Go watch Cordell first year starting quarterback with Chan Gailey. Go watch the 2000s”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart says he chose Colorado because it had won the national championship and he was its top recruit.
“Colorado won the national championship, so I couldn't go nowhere else. I was their number one choice”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart says no single defender scared him, though Baltimore was the toughest opponent.
“there was no one player that scared me, man. Like I, I just had no fear, man”
- Kordell Stewart
Stewart states that his priorities are God first, family second, and career third.
“first we say like this, we say first is God. You know, second is your family. Third is your career”
People
In the conversation
- Mick HuntHost of the Mick Unplugged podcast
- Kordell StewartFormer NFL quarterback and wide receiver known as "Slash," who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the University of Colorado
Discussed
- Brian RiveraNFL Films director of the Kordell Stewart documentary
- Bill CowherFormer Pittsburgh Steelers head coach who appears in the documentary
- Frank SessomsLate Pittsburgh home-visit doctor whom Stewart linked to the start of the rumor
- Dan RooneyMember of the Steelers' owning Rooney family whom Stewart said stays in touch with him
- Art Rooney IIPittsburgh Steelers owner who invites Stewart into his box
- Mike TomlinLongtime Pittsburgh Steelers head coach
- Chan GaileySteelers offensive coordinator during Stewart's first season as starting quarterback
- Joe GreeneSteelers Hall of Fame defensive lineman known for a Coca-Cola commercial
- Josh AllenBuffalo Bills quarterback
- Otto GrahamCleveland Browns quarterback who threw and rushed for three touchdowns in the 1954 championship game
- Ray LewisBaltimore Ravens linebacker
- Sterling SharpeFormer South Carolina and NFL wide receiver and friend of Stewart
- Randy JacksonMick Hunt's uncle and a devoted Steelers fan
- Stanley MorganFormer New England Patriots receiver and Hunt's uncle
Topics
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From the publisher
What happens when the world talks about you for years before hearing your side? Kordell Stewart joins Mick Hunt for a candid conversation about silence, faith, and reclaiming his own story. The man known as “Slash” reflects on his path from receiver to starting quarterback, the personal cost of rumors, and why telling his story matters to the fans and young people who look up to him. Mick shares what Kordell’s example meant to his family, and Kordell closes with the priorities that have carried him: God, family, and career. WHAT YOU'LL HEAR Why Kordell wanted the opportunity to tell his story in his own words. How he describes the impact of years of rumors and public assumptions. What it took to move between wide receiver and quarterback. Why silence can be misunderstood and how he chooses to respond today. His gratitude toward the fans who stood by him and the young people he coaches. The Unplugged Five: New Orleans food, choosing Colorado, competition, music, and faith. CHAPTERS 00:00 Cold open: the sound of silence 00:17 Welcome to Mick Unplugged 01:06 The Because: telling his own story 04:40 The origin and cost of rumors 14:18 Faith and handling adversity 17:11 Receiver, quarterback, and the work behind Slash 23:44 When silence becomes the story 27:14 Gratitude, grace, and reclaiming his voice 29:49 Giving Kordell his flowers 37:47 The Unplugged Five 42:52 God, family, career Kordell discusses the documentary featured in the interview, his relationship with Pittsburgh, and the responsibility he feels when speaking to the next generation. His recollections and views are presented in his own words. Mick and Kordell also discuss a possible fan gathering. No date, game, or registration details are confirmed in this episode. Connect & Discover Kordell Stewart: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kslash10/ X: https://x.com/KSlash10 KORDELL STEWART / SLASH & BURN is now available on HBO Max. FOLLOW MICK Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mickunplugged/ Facebook: ht…
Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on November 2, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.