Former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart has retired with the team, officially announcing his retirement from football in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. He leaves as a Steeler despite a career with the team that must have been tough for him, as he endured boos from the fans and questions about his sexuality.
↵↵↵"I never really knew how strong I was until I had to deal with some of those things," said Stewart after an offseason practice. "When things are tough, I just get a little bit tougher. Being here in this city, a lot of great things happened, and all of the other stuff was just part of the game."
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The Steelers drafted Stewart in the third round of the 1995 NFL Draft. He was "Slash" in his first two seasons, often playing wide receiver but also sometimes throwing the ball. He took over the Steelers' starting quarterback job in 1997 and had an uneven career, although it was a career with real highs, including a 2001 season in which he threw for 3,109 yards and led the Steelers to the top seed in the AFC Playoffs. He last played in 2005.
↵For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain.